[Experimental reconstruction of the urinary bladder using atelocollagen sponge]

An experimental reconstruction of the urinary bladder using specially designed bovine cross linked atelocollagen sponge was performed after partial cystectomy in 12 male rabbits. Bladder reconstruction with hybrid type biomaterials using both atelocollage sponge and cultured autologous cells were performed in 5 rabbits (the 1st group). The autologous cells were collected from the mucosa and muscular layer of the urinary bladder and were seeded on the atelocollagen sponge before reconstruction. Reconstruction using atelocollagen sponge without autologous cells were performed in the other 7 rabbits (the 2nd group). In 9 of these 12 rabbits, atelocollagen sponge was successfully implanted in the native urinary bladder. Histopathological findings revealed that seeded autologous cells and growth of surrounding host cells could be seen similarly in the atelocollagen sponge but these could not be differentiated by these could not be differentiated by routine histopathological techniques. In conclusion, these results showed a possibility of construction of artificial urinary tract using both atelocollagen sponge and autologous cells.