Tubularized urethral replacement using tissue-engineered peritoneum-like tissue in a rabbit model.
BACKGROUND
This study aims to investigate whether mesothelial cells could function as seed cells to construct tissue-engineered peritoneum-like tissue for urethral reconstruction in a rabbit model.


METHODS
Bladder acellular matrices were prepared and trimmed to 1.5 × 1 cm. Nine male rabbits underwent omentum biopsy and autologous mesothelial cells were isolated. After in vitro expansion, the cells were seeded onto the matrices and incubated for 7 days. In 18 rabbits, a pendulous urethral segment 1.5 cm long was totally excised and urethroplasty was performed with tubularized matrices seeded with cells in 9 animals and without cells in 9 as controls. Urethrography was performed at 1, 2 and 6 months postoperatively. Meanwhile, the neourethras were harvested and analyzed grossly and histologically.


RESULTS
Histological analysis of the cell-seeded grafts revealed a loose collagen matrix covered with a single layer of mesothelim. Serial urethrography indicated a wide urethral caliber without stricture formation in animals implanted with cell-seeded matrices, while all animals of the control group developed stricture. Histological analysis of the implanted cell-seeded matrices demonstrated a normal urethral architecture by 1 month, composed of multilayers of urothelium surrounded by smooth muscle bundles, which became increasingly organized with time. By 6 months, the neourethra could be hardly distinguished from native urethra both grossly and histologically.


CONCLUSIONS
Autologous mesothelial cells could be successfully used as seed cells for tubularized urethral reconstruction in male rabbits.
Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.
Gang-Li
GL
Gu
Shu-Jie
SJ
Xia
Jie
J
Zhang
Guo-Hua
GH
Liu
Lei
L
Yan
Zhong-Hua
ZH
Xu
Ying-Jian
YJ
Zhu
D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000473:pathology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014521:Urethra / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods
D003094:Collagen