Reconstitution of a bioengineered salivary gland using a three-dimensional cell manipulation method

One concept in regenerative therapy is the replacement of a lost or damaged organ with a regenerated, fully functional organ. Three-dimensional cell manipulation techniques, designated "organ germ methods," enable the normal development of a bioengineered organ germ in several types of ectodermal organs, such as teeth, hair follicles, and secretory glands. This method is useful for both organ regeneration technology and developmental biology, including cell kinetic analysis and the elucidation of gene regulation during organogenesis. Here, we describe a protocol for salivary gland reconstitution using the organ germ method to transplant a bioengineered salivary gland germ.