Human embryoid body-derived stem cells in bladder regeneration using rodent model
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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Mouse Bladder Wall Injection
Published on: July 12, 2011
Dominic Frimberger1, Nelly Morales, Michael Shamblott
1Division of Pediatric Urology, Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
Objectives:
To evaluate the capability of a human embryonic germ (hEG) cell-derived cell line (SDEC), previously characterized in our laboratory, seeded on porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) to regenerate the injured rat bladder.
Methods:
Fluorescent-labeled SDEC cells seeded on SIS for 8 days in vitro were used as bladder grafts in rats. A total of 30 congenitally athymic rats (six groups of 5 rats each), underwent partial cystectomy and replacement with plain SIS (groups 1 to 3) or cell-seeded SIS (groups 4 to 6). The rats were sacrificed after 7 (groups 1 and 4), 14 (groups 2 and 5), and 28 (groups 3 and 6) days. The bladders were analyzed by histopathologic examination and fluorescence microscopy.
Results:
No graft rejection or diminution in bladder capacity occurred. Plain SIS implants had multiple calcareous deposits, not seen with the cell-seeded implants. Macroscopically, at 7 days, the grafts were healed with a cellular lining on the luminal aspect in groups 4 to 6. Microscopically, the rat bladder was completely regenerated 28 days after stem cell-seeded SIS implantation. Labeled stem cells were identified throughout the graft and contributed significantly to bladder regeneration.
Conclusions:
The results of this study have demonstrated the successful replacement of a bladder defect in a rat model using hEG cell-derived cells seeded on SIS grafts. Longer term analysis of these bladder grafts will allow evaluation of function, cell migration, and differentiation processes of human stem cells.
