Abstract
Objective: To investigate the efficacy of muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) combined with nerve growth factor (NGF) in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in rats. Methods: MDSCs were isolated and extracted from 90 SD rats, and the stem cell characteristics of the cells were identified using flow cytometry. NGF overexpression plasmid was coated with adenovirus and qRT-PCR was applied to verify adenovirus transfection efficiency. The rat models of SUI were constructed and randomly divided into five groups: control group, PBS group, MDSCs+oe-NGF group, MDSCs+vector group, and MDSCs group. After 8 weeks of feeding, the effect of MDSCs combined with NGF on repairing SUI in rats was detected by measuring the leakage point pressure (LPP) rats and Masson staining of rat urethral sections. The expression of NGF and VEGF was detected by western blot and IHC staining. Results: Flow cytometry results showed that the isolated MDSCs had stem cell characteristics and good purity. NGF mRNA was significantly upregulated in MDSCs after transfection with adenovirus coated with NGF plasmid. Compared with the control group, the LPP and the ratio of muscle fibers/collagen fibers were significantly increased in the MDSCs treated groups, with the highest increase in the MDSCs + oe-NGF group. Western blot and IHC results showed that compared with the control group, the expression of NGF and VEGF in the urethral tissues in the MDSCs treated groups were significantly up-regulated, with the highest increase in the MDSCs + oe-NGF group. Conclusion: MDSCs alone can improve SUI in rats, while MDSCs combined with NGF is more effective in the treatment of SUI rats by up-regulating VEGF.
Muscle-Derived Stem Cells Combined With Nerve Growth Factor Transplantation in the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Rats
