Stem Cell Therapy for Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence: The Current Status and Challenges

Figure 1

The protocol of stem cell therapy for SUI animal models. In most studies that investigate stem cells as potential treatment for SUI, the following criteria need to be established. (a) The polyphyletic stem cells have plasticity to differentiate into functional cells and proliferate in vitro. Myogenic differentiation is demonstrated with the expression of desmin and a-skeletal muscle actin by immunostaining. (b) They migrate to the damaged external urethral sphincter through periurethral injection. (c) Treatment effects of stem cell transplantation were evaluated through urodynamic testing and morphologic changes of the urethra and frozen urethra sections were submitted to pathology and immunohistochemistry assessment before and after transplantation.