December 5, 2017

expert reaction to study investigating cell-based hormone replacement therapy in rats

New research, publishing in Nature Communications, reports that cell-based hormone replacement therapy, which uses a 3D bioengineered ovary construct to deliver and regulate sex hormones, is shown to be as effective as pharmacological hormone replacement therapy, but with fewer adverse side effects.

Dr Channa Jayasena, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Endocrinology at Imperial College London, and member of the Society for Endocrinology said:

“Making artificial ovaries sounds like science fiction.  The authors have attempted a small step along this process by creating an implant that makes oestrogen within rodents.  Unfortunately, it looks like the levels of oestrogen declined during the three month long experiment, so I think there is a very long way to go before we can look at this as a sustainable therapy for women requiring HRT.  Crucially, this experiment does not attempt to seed eggs into an artificial ovary which would be a real game changer, and again we’re a very long way from that being possible.”

* ‘In vivo transplantation of 3D encapsulated ovarian constructs in rats corrects abnormalities of ovarian failure’ by Sivanandane Sittadjody et al. published in Nature Communications on Tuesday 5 December 2017.

Declared interests

Dr Channa Jayasena: “No declarations.”