Lab-grown esophagus in pigs restores swallowing, signaling pediatric repair prospects

Scientists grew lab-made oesophagi from pig stem cells on scaffolds and implanted them into eight recipient pigs. Over two months the grafts developed into functional tissue with nerves, muscle, and blood vessels, and five pigs survived six months, regaining the ability to swallow. While some initial scar tissue affected swallowing, it diminished over time, suggesting a path toward treating conditions like long-gap oesophageal atresia in children or muscular damage in adults, though human trials are still future work.