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Spatial transcriptomic map of the mouse urinary bladder
Nives Matković1, Andrea Gelemanović2, Kristijana Popović1
1Laboratory for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Split, Split, Croatia.
Scientific Reports
|March 17, 2026
Summary
This study maps the mouse urinary bladder's gene expression using spatial transcriptomics. The findings reveal distinct cell types and gradual tissue layer transitions, enhancing our understanding of bladder biology.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Genomics
- Spatial Biology
Background:
- Understanding the spatial organization of the urinary bladder is crucial for diagnosing and treating bladder pathologies.
- Traditional histological and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) methods have limitations in capturing tissue architecture and cell-cell interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a high-resolution spatial transcriptomic map of the mouse urinary bladder.
- To identify distinct cell populations and their spatial distribution within the bladder wall.
- To reveal gene expression patterns and cellular transitions across different bladder compartments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Visium HD spatial transcriptomics technology on mouse urinary bladder tissue.
- Analyzed 66,471 spatial bins and 9,364 genes after quality filtering.
- Annotated cell clusters using canonical marker genes and integrated reference datasets (Tabula Muris, Mouse Cell Atlas).
Main Results:
- Identified 13 distinct clusters corresponding to urothelium, lamina propria, and smooth muscle layers.
- Observed gradual gene expression transitions across tissue layers, not sharp boundaries.
- Differentiated basal, intermediate, and umbrella cells within the urothelium, noting potential mRNA polarization in umbrella cells.
- Detected four distinct smooth muscle clusters, unlike the single cluster from non-spatial scRNA-seq.
- Found lamina propria composed mainly of fibroblasts and immune cells.
Conclusions:
- Spatial transcriptomics provides a powerful complement to histology and scRNA-seq for bladder research.
- The generated map offers a valuable resource for studying mouse urinary bladder biology.
- This study lays the groundwork for future investigations into bladder diseases and their spatial underpinnings.
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