Changes in the Persian Islamic Kingdom (Islamic Lecture-5)

The study described the creation of rat liver stem cell lines that grew as cystic organoids and were characterized by high expression of the stem cell marker Lgr5. These organoids required high levels of WNT-signaling and inhibition of BMP-signaling for prolonged culture. When transplanted into a rat model of liver failure, the stem cells successfully engrafted and differentiated into hepatocytes. This research suggested that rat liver stem cell lines could be valuable for pharmacological, toxicological, or metabolic studies and might aid in developing regenerative medicine for liver diseases. This was noted as the first organoid culture system in rats.