ESTABLISHING A MODEL OF ORGAN REGENERATION IN THE YOUNG MAMMAL: Manipulating and Developing a Permissive Microenvironment

The repair potential of the mammalian bladder has been known for over a century, but very few studies have examined the extent of bladder regeneration using animal models. The aim of the present studies was to develop a model of bladder regeneration in mice with specific emphasis on restoration of function. The impacts of immune response and a permissive microenvironment were also evaluated. Removal of a large portion of the urinary bladder (subtotal cystectomy; STC) in adult mice initiated a proliferative response that eventually gave rise to normal bladder wall architecture, including nerves, vessels, urothelium, and smooth muscle. Regenerated bladders displayed a normal low pressure, high capacity function, and were able to empty completely 12 weeks after cystectomy. Magnetic Resonance Imaging revealed a progressive increase in the bladder capacity and was able to predict the rate of bladder growth that resulted in normal function. InCITE, a combined optical tissue clearing method and computational analysis approach enabled a qualitative and quantitative exploration of the relationship between smooth muscle cell and extracellular matrix fiber morphometrics and functional recovery during repair.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2017

Author dc:creator

• Zarifpour, Mona

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/86332

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/86332