OBJECTIVETo construct a structure of urethra mucosa in vitro by tissue engineering.

METHODSPrimary porcine urothelial cells (UC) were obtained from the porcine bladder by enzymatic digestion and detected by immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. Bladder acellular matrix grafts (BAMG) were prepared, used as the scaffold and then evaluated by HE staining, Masson's trichrome staining, immunohistology and scanning electron microscopy. After in vitro culture and amplification, the UCs were seeded on the luminal surface the BAMGs.

RESULTSAfter 1 week of in vitro culture, the UCs formed a multilayer structure on the luminal surface of the BAMGs along the basement membrane. The tissue-engineered urothelium and BAMG complex was well formed and pan cytokeratins were positively expressed in the UCs on the scaffold.

CONCLUSIONBy tissue engineering, the urethra mucosa structure can be rapidly constructed in vitro, which can be applied to the repair of such urethral defect as hypospadias and urethral stricture.