Abstract
To examine the effects of human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs) transplantation on bladder function and molecular changes in diabetic rats, 60 female Sprague-Dawley rats were used for study. Three groups were assigned including sham control rats, streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg)-induced diabetic rats and STZ-induced diabetic rats plus bladder hAFSCs transplantation. Compared to controls, diabetic rats had decreased body weight but increased bladder weight. Cystometries showed non-voiding contraction, residual volume, voided volume and intercontraction interval increased significantly in diabetic rats at week 4 and 12 after DM induction, but improved after hAFSCs transplantation. The immunoreactivities and mRNAs of nerve growth factor (NGF) decreased significantly in diabetic bladder at week 4 and 12 after DM induction, but recovered after hAFSCs transplantation. The immunoreactivities and mRNAs of M2 and M3 muscarinic receptor increased significantly in diabetic bladder at week 4 after DM induction but recovered after hAFSCs transplantation. The immunoreactivity of 8-hydroxy-20-deoxyguanosine increased significantly in diabetic bladder at week 4 and 12 after DM induction but reduced after hAFSCs transplantation. The present study showed bladder dysfunction in STZ-induced diabetic rats could be improved by hAFSCs transplantation into bladder, which may be related to the recovery of bladder NGF and muscarinic receptors.