In vitro culture of rat hair follicle stem cells on rabbit bladder acellular matrix

BACKGROUND The aim of this work was to create a xenogeneic cell scaffold complex with rabbit bladder acellular matrix and rat hair follicle stem cells, to study the feasibility of construct tissue engineer bladder through biocompatibility of hair follicle stem cells and heterogeneous bladder acellular matrix. MATERIAL AND METHODS New Zealand rabbit bladder acellular matrix was prepared. Scanning electron microscope and Masson staining were used to analyse the acellular material. Two-steps precipitation method was used to place the third generation of hair follicle stem cells onto the surface of the bladder acellular matrix. The in vitro cell growth on the scaffold complex was regularly monitored through an inverted microscope. Cell growth curve was established and histological examination and scanning electron microscopic were used to analyse the progresses of the cell growth on the matrix material. RESULTS The prepared bladder acellular matrix was white, translucent and membranous. It possessed a fibrous network and collagen structure without any significant cell residues as displayed by the scanning electron microscope, and Masson staining. After 48 h of culture, observation by inverted microscope showed that the hair follicle stem cells grew well around the bladder acellular matrix. After 1 week of culture, scanning electron microscopy showed that the hair follicle stem cells spread and adhered on the surface of the scaffold. CONCLUSIONS The in vitro culture of rat hair follicle stem cells and the rabbit bladder acellular matrix possessed a good biocompatibility, which provides a good experiment support for hair follicle stem cells to repair the bladder defects disease.