EVATARCOURTESY OF NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE
The latest feat in organ-on-a-chip technology is a model female reproductive system that can mimic the human menstrual cycle. Researchers described this new system, named EVATAR, yesterday (March 28) in Nature Communications.
EVATAR is a chip around the size of a human hand that contains five mini-organs: a uterus, vagina, liver, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. All the tissues come from humans, except the ovaries, which are taken from mice (since they are rarely removed from people). Each organ sits in its own compartment, which is linked to the others through minuscule tubes that carry blood-like liquid and hormones. To mimic the 28-day menstrual cycle on the chip, the team first added follicle stimulating hormone, then luteinizing hormone 14 days later. This successfully stimulated the ovaries ...
