Smooth muscle cell transplantation improves bladder contractile function in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats

Damage to smooth muscle has been the primary cause of dysfunction in diabetic bladders. Major changes in the filling phase of the bladder result in the loss of compliance and incomplete emptying in patients.

Cell-based therapies in the lower urinary tract have shown promising results. We argue that because diabetic bladder dysfunction is primarily a problem arising out of altered smooth muscle cells (SMCs), it would be an interesting approach to introduce healthy SMCs into the bladder wall.

Furthering this hypothesis, in this experiment, we were successful in introducing syngeneic, healthy SMCs into diabetic bladders. We attempted a method wherein bladder function can be improved in streptozocin-induced diabetes mellitus. Ex vivo-cultured healthy SMCs were introduced into the diabetic bladders of syngeneic Sprague-Dawley rats during the hypercontractile phase after induction of diabetes. Cystometry, metabolic cage evaluation, organ bath studies and histological analyses were performed on the healthy control, the diabetic and the diabetic group transplanted with SMCs.

During the 2-week follow-up period after transplantation, we noticed an increase in contractile response of the bladder correlating to a decrease in residual urine. Cell survival studies revealed a cell survival rate close to 1.5%.