Ectopic subcutaneous transplantation of fetal rat urogenital sinus and seminal vesicle promotes the organ growth and formation

Abstract

PurposeThe fate of subcutaneously transplanted urogenital sinus (UGS) and seminal vesicle (SV) was investigated in the present study. Materials and MethodsFetal UGS and SV extracted from 20-embryonic-day-old male normal and GFP transgenic rats were subcutaneously transplanted into 7-week-old male immunologically inhibited rats. The transplants were then examined at 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks after transplantation. We analyzed the survival ratio, weight, and histopathology as well as the immunohistochemical characteristics of the transplanted tissues. For control experiments, 2-, 4-, 8-, and 16-week-old normal male rats were used. ResultsAlmost all of the transplanted tissues survived under the skin, and the tissue weights increased over time after transplantation. The histopathological characteristics and immunohistochemical staining pattern with certain antibodies of the transplanted tissues were similar to those of normal adult rat prostate and seminal vesicle. The transplanted GFP transgenic tissues demonstrated spontaneous growth and organ formation under the skin, showing distribution and movement of transplanted cells and tissues. ConclusionSubcutaneously transplanted fetal UGS and SV were able to develop into mature adult organs.