Use of Tissue Engineering in Treatment of the Male Genitourinary Tract Abnormalities

Abstract

A variety of congenital and acquired male genitourinary tract abnormalities can lead to organ damage or tissue loss that requires surgical reconstruction. Traditional reconstructive methods do not produce consistent satisfactory structural or functional replacement and may damage the genitourinary tract. Tissue engineering provides a promising alternative for the treatment of these disorders. The aim of this article is to provide an update on clinical and experimental evidence concerning the application of tissue engineering to treatment of abnormalities in the male genitourinary tract system. A PubMed search was performed to retrieve relevant clinical and basic literature. The topics discussed in this review include the experimental and clinical application of tissue engineering for reconstruction of the urethra, penis, testis, and prostate. Tissue engineering techniques can provide a plentiful source of healthy tissue for reconstructive purposes. Acellular matrix scaffold and seed cells are two key elements in tissue engineering. Proper employment of seed cells and scaffold material may result in synergistic effects. Moreover, new tissue engineering technologies are being transferred from the laboratory to clinical practice. Tissue engineering provides biological substitutes that can restore and maintain normal function in diseased and injured tissues, thus providing an effective technique for regeneration of the male genitourinary tract.