Human fatty tissue has been shown to be a viable, pluripotent source for stem cells that can be differentiated into a variety of cell lineages, including bone, muscle and neural cell types.
San Francisco researchers investigated whether autologous adipose-derived stem cells could be differentiated into urologic tissues that could be used for reconstructive purposes.
Investigators harvested paragonadal adipose tissue from rat specimens and processed the tissue to yield the stem cells, which were then suspended in a phosphate-buffered solution (PBS) and injected into the bladder and proximal urethra of 16 Sprague-Dawley rats. A control group of 16 animals received PBS injection alone. Results showed that the cells differentiated into smooth and striated muscle, vasular and adipose tissues. Histologic evidence from this study suggests that fatty tissue may be an easily accessible source of stem cells that could be differentiated into urothelium, smooth muscle and other support tissue.