Objective To study the differenation of adult marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) into vascular endothelial cells in vitro and to explore inducing conditions. Methods MSCs were isolated from adult marrow mononuclear cells by attaching growth. MSCs were divided into 4 groups to induce: the cells seeded at a density of 5×103/cm2 in 2% and 15% FCS LDMEM respectively (group1 and group 2), at a density of 5×104/cm2 in 2% and 15% FCS LDMEM respectively (group 3 and group 4); vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) supplemented with Bovine pituitary extract was used to induce the cell differentiation. The differentiated cells were identified by measuring surfacemarks (CD34, VEGFR2, CD31 and vWF ) on the 14th day and 21st day and performed angiogenesis in vitroon the 21st day.The cell proliferation index(PI)of different inducing conditions were measured. Results After induced in VEGF supplemented with Bovine pituitary extract, the cells of group 3 expressed the surface marks CD34, VEGFR-2, CD31 and vWF on the 14th day, the positive rates were 8.5%, 12.0%, 40.0% and 30.0% respectively, and on the 21st day the positive ratesof CD34 and VEGFR2 increased to 15.5% and 20.0%, while the other groups did not express these marks; the induced cells of group 3 showed low proliferating state(PI was 10.4%) and formed capillary-like structure in semisolid medium. Conclusion Adult MSCs can differentiate into vascular endothelial cellsafter induced by VEGF and Bovine pituitary extract at high cell densities and low proliferatingconditions,suggesting that adult MSCs will be ideal seed cells forthe therapeutic neovascularization and tissue engineering.
Objective To explore an effective method of culturing the canine bladder smooth muscle cells, observe the morphological characteristics of the bladder smooth muscle cells growing on acellular small intestinal submucosa(SIS) and offer an experimental basis for reconstruction of the bladder smooth muscle structure by the tissue engineering techniques. Methods The enzymetreatment method and the explant method were respectively used to isolate and harvest the canine bladder smooth muscle cells, and then a primary culture of these cells was performed. The canine bladder smooth musclecells were seeded on the SIS scaffold, and the composite of the bladder smooth muscle cells and the SIS scaffold were co cultured for a further observation. At 5,7 and 9 days of the co culture, the specimens were taken; the bladder smooth muscle cells growing on the SIS scaffold were observed by the hematoxylin staining, the HE staining, and the scanning electron microscopy. The composite of the bladder smooth muscle cells on the SIS scaffold was used as the experimental group, and the bladder smooth muscle cells with no SIS were used as the control group. In each group, 9 holes were chosen for the seeded bladder smooth muscle cells, and then the cells were collected at 3, 5 and 7 days for the cell counting after the enzyme treatment. Morphological characteristics of the cells were observed under the phase contrast microscope and the transmission electron microscope. Expression of the cell specific marker protein was assessed by the immunohistochemical examinaiton. The proliferation of the cells was assessed by the cell counting after the seeding on the SIS scaffold. Results The primary bladder smooth muscle cells that had been harvested by the enzyme treatment method were rapidly proliferated, and the cells had good morphological characteristics. After the primary culture in vitrofor 5 days, the bladder smooth muscle cells grew in confluence. When the bladder smooth muscle cells were seeded by the explant method, a small amount of the spindleshaped bladder smooth muscle cells emigrated from the explant at 3 days. The cells were characterized by the welldeveloped actin filaments inthe cytoplasm and the dense patches in the cell membrane under the transmissionelectron microscope. The immunohistochemical staining showed the canine bladdersmooth muscle cells with positive reacting α actin antibodies. The bladder smooth muscle cells adhered to the surface of the SIS scaffold, growing and proliferating there. After the culture in vitro for 5 days, the smooth muscle cells covered all the surface of the scaffold, showing a singlelayer cellular structure. The cell counts at 3, 5 and 7 days in the experimental group were(16.85±0.79)×105,(39.74±2.16)×105 and (37.15±2.02)×105, respectively. Thecell counts in the control group were(19.43±0.54)×105,(34.50±1.85)×105 and (33.07±1.31)×105, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups at 5 days (P<0.05). ConclusionWith the enzyme treatment method, the primarily cultured canine bladder smooth muscle cells can produce a great amount of good and active cells in vitro. The acellular SIS can offer an excellent bio scaffold to support the bladder smooth muscle cells to adhere and grow, which has provided the technical foundation for a further experiment on the tissue engineered bladder reconstruction.