The development of mammals (including humans) in the womb is a long and complex process. Of course, he is familiar to us, and everyone knows what happens at a time when the fetus is in the womb. Scientists from ancient times set out to grow a fetus in artificial conditions. But actively, this issue began to be investigated about two decades ago.
First experiments
A successful experiment to develop an artificial uterus was performed by scientists from Philadelphia. Their method has already been tested and works quite well. In the laboratory of Philadelphia scientists there was not one fruit, but eight as many - these are lambs that continue to develop under artificial conditions. Their internal organs are constantly increasing in size. Lambs sometimes open their eyes, move, make swallowing movements - all that a fetus should do at a certain stage of its development. Scientists believe that in the future, an artificial uterus will become a ubiquitous way to safely carry premature babies.
The minimum period of intrauterine development, after which the fetus can be considered viable, is 20-22 weeks. The body weight should be about 400 g. Such babies are placed in a box, where the required level of temperature and humidity is maintained. Also, artificial respiration apparatus, expensive drugs are used in the couveuse. However, even the most up-to-date techniques cannot support an environment that could be comparable to a mother’s womb.
The dream of scientists
A real uterus is a three-layer “bag” of muscle tissue. Bearing the fetus would have been impossible without the coordinated work of its three layers - endometrium, myometrium, and perimetry. Scientists have already studied the development process quite well: a fertilized egg is introduced into the inner layer of the uterus, a placenta is gradually formed, and fluid accumulates around the fetus. However, until now it was impossible for researchers to reproduce all these conditions. The idea of artificial bearing, like the idea of a homunculus (a man created by the hands of other people), has long been exciting the minds of scientists. Such progress as the creation of an artificial uterus poses a lot of moral and ethical issues to humanity. However, progress cannot be stopped, and with these issues, society will soon come face to face.
How does the device work?
Seen from the side, it looks more like vacuum packaging. In fact, this is nothing more and nothing less than a biological bag. Scientists called their development biobag, which is translated from English and means “bio bag”. On the other hand, an artificial uterus is a system that has the same elements as a real uterus. The solution inside it removes the accumulated harmful substances from the fetus. In fact, this solution is an analogue of amniotic fluid or amniotic fluid. The embryo receives all the nutrients, including oxygen, through an artificial “umbilical cord”. At the same time, gas exchange takes place here.
Scientists explain: the main problem that kills premature babies is the underdevelopment of the lungs. In the womb, the baby's lungs are filled with fluid. A “bio bag” mimics this condition. And also, unlike other methods of caring for premature babies, it protects the fetus from the pathogenic environment. The artificial uterus works without a pump.
Severity of the problem
An artificial uterus for premature babies could solve the global problem of preterm birth. According to WHO statistics, about 15 million children die each year due to prematurity - and this is one in ten of all newborns. About a million of them die immediately, and those children who survived may suffer from various physiological or mental problems.
Experiment
The age of the lamb embryo, which was transplanted by scientists into an artificial womb, was equivalent to the 23-week period of a human embryo. Before the experiment was delivered by Philadelphia scientists, scientists from around the world tried to conduct the experiment. However, the fetus died within a few hours. The problem was that the embryo needed a “bridge” between the womb and the artificial uterus.
Initially, the device was tested on lambs, whose age was about 120 days. After the embryos spent four weeks in the bio bag, they were carefully scrutinized. Researchers did not find any problems. It can be argued that sheep are at a much lower stage of development than humans. However, now the beginning has already been made, and a similar device for babies will soon be invented. Scientists say that by the time an artificial uterus is developed for humans, it only takes 1.5 minutes to “switch” the fetus from the mother’s body to the artificial device. If all further experiments are successful, then in a few years the first human trials will begin. This development will help save more than one human life.
Animals that had been in the device for four weeks had to be euthanized - this was required for their further study and evaluation of the success of the experiment. However, one lamb, to which the researcher developed an affection, survived, he was sent to the farm.
The future of science
The fact that now scientists have created an artificial uterus for carrying embryos, indicates significant progress in this area. These experiments are of tremendous importance to humanity. However, despite the fact that the previous experiments were carried out quite successfully, this is still not an absolute guarantee that such a device will be created for carrying human embryos.
If further experiments are successful, premature babies after cesarean section will also be moved to the device. For four weeks, babies will spend time in conditions as close to natural as possible. Scientists also emphasize: this technology will be successful only for those children who were born after the 24th week of fetal development.