Engineered Rabbit Penises Raise Human Hopes

[mangxema]

Using tissue grown in a laboratory, researchers have engineered fully functional replacement penises. The organs were made for rabbits, but the technique may someday be useful for people.

“This technology has considerable potential for patients requiring penile construction,” wrote researchers in a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Leading the team was Anthony Atala, director of Wake Forest University’s Institute of Regenerative Medicine. Atala is best known for developing a technique in which cells are taken from an organ and sprayed onto a frame made of collagen, the primary structural protein in animal tissue. The structure is then bathed with growth-stimulating compounds and kept in an oven that duplicates the body’s temperature and chemical composition.

Given these starting conditions, natural biology does the rest. The cells divide and arrange themselves in natural, working configurations.

Atala’s group has already implanted lab-grown bladders, grown from the patients’ own tissue, in seven men. Bladders are just one of dozens of organs being engineered by the group, from every part of the body — but in some organs, it’s been difficult to find the right starting mix of different cell types, and reconstruction has proved challenging. The penis is one such organ.

In earlier studies, the researchers grew segments of the penis’ main structures, called corpus cavernosa. These lie along the shaft of the penis, and are made from a complex, sponge-like arrangement of different cell types. But when implanted in rabbits whose corpus cavernosa had been removed, the tissue failed to become erect.

This time, they used a different mix of growth factors, and grew entire corpus cavernosa, rather than pieces of them. It worked: The next penises responded normally to electrical and chemical stimuli, and — more importantly — to biological imperative. When given the chance to have sex, eight were able to ejaculate, and four became fathers.

Oddly, the procedure seemed to make the rabbits randier than usual.

“Most control rabbits did not attempt copulation after introduction to their female partners,” wrote the researchers. “All rabbits with bioengineered neocorpora attempted copulation within one minute of introduction.”

Wow...

 

[rhawn]

I can't wait until they sell these at Walmart.

 

[Dachs]

First thing I thought of was this. Rodents...cloning penises...

 

[West 36]

Is there a large demand for replacement penises?

 

[TheLastOne36]

Wait... How do you break one?

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

If we are talking a whole new unit, rather than just enlarging an existing one, I suppose FtM transsexuals would be the main recipients.

 

[rhawn]

Its possible at some point this may outsell Extenze.

 

[Shadylookin]

how many men will die from lack of blood because they requested a new tool too large for their blood supply to maintain an engorged member along with the rest of the bodies needs?

 

[Lord Baal]

Wait... How do you break one?

Get your girlfriend really mad, then go to sleep.

Does this mean we'll soon have designer penises? I want one that glows in the dark, so I can find my way easier.

 

[Merkinball]

Ya know, we wouldn't have these artificially engineered rabbit penises if it wasn't for our private healthcare system.

 

[holy king]

i smell a nobel price.

 

[warpus]

I'll take six rabbit penises, please.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

An Ignobel, yeah.

How does this improve scientific knowledge? And if it does, isn't there a better tissue type to practice regeneration on?

 

[GenMarshall]

 

[holy king]

An Ignobel, yeah.

How does this improve scientific knowledge? And if it does, isn't there a better tissue type to practice regeneration on?

i dont think there's better tissue to start with this stuff, no.

 

[mangxema]

How does this improve scientific knowledge?

Well, from an engineering perspective it's a rather complex thing to make. I mean, it's not just a prosthesis, it actually works... I would not be surprised if some of the same methods used here might be useful in the growing of other complex organs, although I don't know how much of that we could know for certain right know.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

PETA will stop the removal of rabbit penises! Be sure of it!

 

[GenMarshall]

PETA would attempt to blow up the lab, they're terrorists anyway. They won't stop till humans eat salads n rabbit food, force carnivores to eat plants, and force humans to hug every animal they see. Even if it's a grizzly bear about to tear your heart out.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

I think you are confusing PETA with the ALF.

 

[GenMarshall]

I think you are confusing PETA with the ALF.

What's Alf's beef with humans now? Were not touching his supply of cats. Were only touching rabbits for this experiment.