ANAHEIM, Ca. (May 21, 2007) -- Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine offer future patients greater options for treatment and cure of a wide array of urologic conditions, and controversies surrounding the sources of stem cells as well as their use have fueled increased research. Developers from around the world are researching new sources and applications of stem cells. A special session for media highlighting this research was held on May 21 at 9:00 a.m. PDT and was moderated by Roger R. Dmochowski, M.D.

ISOLATION OF HUMAN SPERMATOGONIAL STEM CELLS FROM TESTICULAR PARENCHYMA AND DIFFERENTIATION TOWARDS DIFFERENT TISSUES OF THE THREE HUMAN GERM LAYERS (Abstract 166)

Researchers in Tuebingen, Germany, investigated the possibility of isolating stem cells from human testicular parenchyma and whether those cells could them be differentiated into the different tissues of the three human germ layers: mesoderm, endoderm and ectoderm. Tissues were collected from orchiectomy specimens and cultured according to protocols specific to particular differentiation. The resulting precurser cells were then transplanted in utero in adult nude mice to test potency.

The study shows positive results, as the cells differentiated spontaneously into derivatives of all three primary germ layers, indicating that spermatogonial stem cells derived from adult testicular parenchyma could be a promising tool in reconstructive urology.

This abstract will be presented during Moderated Poster Session 7 on Sunday, May 20 starting at 8:00 a.m.

TISSUE-ENGINEERED AUTOLOGOUS BLADDERS FOR PATIENTS NEEDING CYSTOPLASTY (Abstract 196)

Cystoplasty using gastrointestinal segments is a common treatment for patients with end-stage bladder disease. However, researchers from Wake Forest University and Childrens Hospital Boston have reported viable results with engineered bladder tissue in a small group of patients with myelomen
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Contact: Wendy Isett
wisett@auanet.org
410-689-3789
American Urological Association
21-May-2007