Science of the Lambs

  Orthopaedics and Ovaries

The use of sheep for orthopaedic research continues to increase. This is due to the similarities with humans in weight, bone and joint structure and bone regeneration. Sheep models have been used to study bone healing and test synthetic bone replacements. The spinal cord of the sheep is similar to the spinal cord of humans, so sheep can be used as a model for spinal cord research.

Scientists in Israel successfully transplanted whole frozen and thawed ovaries in sheep, retrieved oocytes from the ovaries and triggered them in the laboratory into early embryonic development. This holds out hope that this approach could become a feasible treatment for women facing premature ovarian failure. The new freezing techniques may also have potential for other human transplants. Sheep were chosen for this research because their ovaries are similar to those of humans.

Source: Medical News Today

Artificial lung 

The MC3 BioLung® (artificial lung technology) is a device designed to fully support the respiratory needs of adult patients as a bridge to lung transplantation or lung recovery. The technology is being tested in adult sheep.

Source: MC3 Corp.

"I'm not shaking anything. Get
somebody else to do this research!"

Helping with Osteoporosis 

Osteoporosis sufferers could soon have sheep to thank for new types of therapy. Scientists have demonstrated how even gentle, but regular, shaking of the limbs can ward off the weakening of the bones associated with the disease. The researchers showed this by mechanically stimulating the hind legs of adult sheep for 20 minutes every day for a year, by standing them on a vibrating platform. By the end of the study, the density of spongy bone in the animals' thighs was 34% higher than in sheep not receiving the treatment. Osteoporosis reduces the density and quality of bone, leading to weakness of the skeleton and an increased risk of fracture. The bones most at risk are the vertebrae, wrist, hip and pelvis. Approximately 1 in 9 people in the U.S. suffer from osteoporosis or low bone mass.

Source: BBC  

Learn about transgenic sheep.

Find out what they do with sheep's blood.

. . New Words . .

Dialysis - artificial removal of waste products from the blood when the kidneys fail.

Oocyte - a female germ cell in the process of development.

Orthopaedics - the branch of medicine concerned with diseases, injuries, and conditions of the musculoskeletal system.

Osteoporosis - a decrease in bone mass and bone density and an increased risk and/or incidence of fracture.

Shunt - a connector to allow blood flow between two locations.