Parthenogenetic activation: biology and applications in the ART laboratory.

摘要: Parthenogenesis is a reproductive strategy typical of lower species where female gives birth to offsprings without paternal contribution. On the contrary, parthenogenesis not form natural reproduction in mammals even if mammalian oocytes, under appropriate stimuli, can undergo parthenogenetic activation. This review describes biological mechanisms regulating activation and illustrates fundamental differences between embryos parthenotes. Ethical, legal political concerns on value human regulate limit embryological studies founded widespread belief that should be created studied for research purposes only. Based parthenotes use proposed as an experimental tool investigate embryo development which may solve many ethical associated with purposes. Examples possible uses field such vitro assays aimed study some aspects assisted technologies (ART), toxicology or stem cell are described their validity discussed.