Scientists from the Salk Institute have grown three-dimensional early kidney structures, known as uteric buds, using human induced pluripotent stem cells and mouse embryonic stem cells. These mushroom-shaped buds develop into the ureter and collecting duct system of the mature kidney.
The discovery not only paves the way for advances in organ regeneration, but also presents new opportunities to study kidney diseases during early development and to test drugs that target kidney cells.
Source:
Mini Kidney Structures Generated from Human Stem Cells for First Time, ScienceDaily, November 17, 2013