Muscle prelamination with urothelial cell cultures via fibrin glue in rats

The purpose of the study was to transplant autologous cultured urothelial c ells onto a muscle via fibrin glue as a delivery vehicle to create a vascul arized, living matrix lined with urothelium that could subsequently be used for urinary reconstruction. Bladder tissue specimens from male Wistar rats (n = 32; 350-500 g) were harvested for urothelial tissue culture. After 8- 10 days when the primary cultures became confluent, the cultured urothelial cells were injected underneath the rectus sheath onto the rectus muscle. A s delivery vehicle we compared standard culture media and fibrin glue. At 1 - and 4-week intervals following urothelial cell grafting, sections of the muscle were analyzed for urothelial graft take using Hematoxylin & Eosin an d immunohistochemical staining. The histology demonstrated viable, multilay ered clusters of urothelium cells on the muscle surface only in the group u sing the fibrin glue delivery vehicle. We conclude that a muscle can be suc cessfully prelaminated with autologously cultured urothelial cells via fibr in glue and has therefore potential for urinary reconstructions.