Construction of tissue-engineered corpus cavernosum with muscle-derived stem cells and transplantation in vivo.

Abstract

• To investigate the feasibility of tissue-engineered corpus cavernosum (TECC) with muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) as seed cells and determine the growth potential in vivo. • Acellular corporal collagen matrices (ACCMs) were obtained from adult rabbit penis by a cell removal procedure. MDSCs were separated and purified using a digestion method and Preplate technique, then seeded on ACCMs at a concentration of 30 × 10(6) cells/mL to construct TECCs. After 5 days of culture, seeded ACCMs were implanted with albuginea of rabbits. The implants were retrieved at 2, 4 and 6 months after implantation. • Histochemistry, immunohistochemisry and scanning electron microscopy were performed to analyse the morphological characteristics of the TECCs. • The decellularization process successfully extracted all cellular components while preserving the original collagen fibres. • Histological analyses of the explants at all time points in the experimental group had more cells and better arranged growth than the control group. α-Smooth muscle actin and endothelial nitric oxide synthase-positive cells were more prevalent in the experimental group. • Our study showed that MDSCs can be seeded on three-dimensional ACCM scaffolds and develop tissues that are similar to native normal corpus cavernosum.