Fetal Organoids Created from Amniotic Fluid Open New Paths in Prenatal Medicine

Researchers have successfully grown organoids from fetal cells in amniotic fluid, offering a non-invasive tool for studying fetal development and congenital diseases.

Researchers have developed a method to generate organoids from fetal cells found in amniotic fluid, offering a new avenue for studying fetal development and congenital diseases.
The organoids, resembling mini lungs, kidneys, and intestines, were grown from epithelial cells collected during amniocentesis, avoiding ethical controversies associated with postmortem fetal tissue.
This breakthrough allows for non-invasive access to the fetus, potentially improving prenatal diagnosis and treatment of conditions like congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).
The study suggests that these organoids could be used to monitor the effectiveness of experimental fetal therapies, such as treatments for CDH.
Future applications may include using organoids for personalized medicine, testing medications in vitro before administering them to patients.