Human amniotic fluid stem cell therapy can help regain bladder function in type 2 diabetic rats

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus(DM)is a serious and growing global health burden.It is estimated that 80%of diabetic patients have micturition problems such as poor emptying,urinary incontinence,urgency,and urgency incontinence.Patients with diabetic bladder dysfunction are often resistant to currently available therapies.It is necessary to develop new and effective treatment methods.AIM To examine the therapeutic effect of human amniotic fluid stem cells(hAFSCs)therapy on bladder dysfunction in a type 2 diabetic rat model.METHODS Sixty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups:Group 1,normal-diet control(control);group 2,high-fat diet(HFD);group 3,HFD plus streptozotocin-induced DM(DM);group 4,DM plus insulin treatment(DM+insulin);group 5,DM plus hAFSCs injection via tail vein(DM+hAFSCs).Conscious cystometric studies were done at 4 and 12 wk after insulin or hAFSCs treatment to measure peak voiding pressure,voided volume,intercontraction interval,bladder capacity,and residual volume.Immunoreactivities and/or mRNA expression of muscarinic receptors,nerve growth factor(NGF),and sensory nerve markers in the bladder and insulin,MafA,and pancreatic-duodenal homeobox-1(PDX-1)in pancreatic beta cells were studied.RESULTS Compared with DM rats,insulin but not hAFSCs treatment could reduce the bladder weight and improve the voided volume,intercontraction interval,bladder capacity,and residual volume(P<0.05).However,both insulin and hAFSCs treatment could help to regain the blood glucose and bladder functions to the levels near controls(P>0.05).The immunoreactivities and mRNA expression of M2-and M3-muscarinic receptors(M2 and M3)were increased mainly at 4 wk(P<0.05),while the number of beta cells in islets and the immunoreactivities and/or mRNA of NGF,calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP),substance P,insulin,MafA,and PDX-1 were decreased in DM rats(P<0.05).However,insulin and hAFSCs treatment could help to regain the expression of M2,M3,NGF,CGRP,substance P,MafA,and PDX-1 to near the levels of controls at 4 and/or 12 wk(P>0.05).CONCLUSION Insulin but not hAFSCs therapy can recover the bladder dysfunction caused by DM;however,hAFSCs and insulin therapy can help to regain bladder function to near the levels of control.

Application of cattle placental stem cells for treating ovarian follicular cyst

BACKGROUND High humidity and temperature in Taiwan have significant effects on the reproductivity of Holstein cattle,resulting in the occurrence of bovine ovarian follicular cyst(OFC).Because of economic loss from OFC,manual rupture and hormone injection have been advocated for the management of OFC.However,these incomplete treatments increase hormone resistance in cattle.Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)derived from placental stem cells(PSCs)demonstrate potential properties for the treatment of several diseases via promoting angiogenesis and immune modulation.AIM To establish the possibility of cattle placental stem cells(CPSCs)as a treatment modality for OFC of cows in Taiwan.METHODS The cows with OFC were divided into three groups:control(BC1 and BC2),hormone(H1 and H2),and CPSC(PS1 and PS2)treatment groups.In the hormone treatment group,the cows were given gonadotrophin-releasing hormone(GnRH)-prostaglandin-GnRH intramuscular injection with or without drainage of follicular fluid.In the CPSC treatment group,CPSCs were isolated from the placenta after labor.With the identification of surface antigen on stem cells,the cows were administered ovarian injection of 1×106 or 6×106 CPSCs with drainage.In all groups,OFC was scanned by ultrasound once a week for a total of seven times.The concentrations of estradiol and progesterone in serum were tested in the same period.The estrus cycle was analyzed by food intake and activity.If estrus was detected,artificial insemination was conducted.Then the cow was monitored by ultrasound for confirmation of pregnancy.RESULTS After 7 d of culture,CPSCs were successfully isolated from placental pieces.CPSCs significantly proliferated every 24 h and had high expression of MSC markers such as cluster of differentiation 44,as determined by flow cytometry.Ultrasound showed lower numbers of OFCs with drainage of follicular fluid.We achieved recovery rates of 0%,50%,50%,75%,75%and 75%in BC1,BC2,H1,H2,PS1,and PS2,respectively.Higher concentrations of progesterone were detected in the CPSC treatment groups.However,both hormone and CPSC treatment groups had no significant difference in the concentration of estradiol.The estrus rate was 0%,100%,25%,75%,75%and 75%in BC1,BC2,H1,H2,PS1,and PS2,respectively.The two fetuses were born in H2 and PS1.In brief,cows with CPSC injection achieved higher recovery,estrus,and inseminated conception rates.CONCLUSION CPSCs have efficacy in treating cows with OFC,and thus,may serve as an alternative treatment for reproductive disorders.