Chapter 35, Problem 1NS.1QC

Summary Introduction

To determine:

Major drawbacks in the procedure developed by the Yale group.

Introduction:

Scientists at Yale University produced artificially grown tissue-engineered lungs in the laboratory. They anesthetized a group of adult rats, removed their left lung through surgical procedure, and replaced it with artificially grown lungs. The implanted lung tissues were able to exchange gases for about two hours at a similar rate as normal lungs.

Explanation of Solution

The Yale group developed a method to transplant artificially grown lungs in animals. The major drawbacks of the procedure are as follows:

1)

The Yale group carried out the experiment on rats. The implanted artificially grown lung was only able to exchange gases at a normal rate for only two hours.

2)

This might not work on humans as organ systems in humans are regulated by several factors.

3)

The experiment was only successful in laboratory conditions. It is not possible to mimic the sterile environment after the implantation.

Conclusion

Artificially grown lungs by Yale group functioned properly for only two hours and that too under sterile laboratory conditions. The procedure may not work on humans.