Study of Kidney Dilation in a Rat Bladder Augmentation Model

Patients with Spina Bifida affected with myelomeningocele can typically display varying degrees of bladder dysfunction. In most cases, surgical reconstruction utilizing a piece of intestine is needed. However, this solution is unsustainable as many issues can occur and the possibility of using a scaffold is ideal. The goal is to use scaffolds with a biodegradable framework that can serve as a carrier for cells, in hopes that bone marrow stem/progenitor cells can be used as an alternative to what is used in surgical methods. The objective of our project was to look at the potential kidney damage in a rat model that has already been conflicted with kidney stones. We analyzed kidneys with regards to their kidney dilation, which can lead to renal scarring. We observed that the rats with poly 1,8-octanediol-co-citrate (POC) grafts were less likely to develop bladder stones, and they were also less likely to develop renal dilation or reflux in comparison to the small intestinal submucosa (SIS) model.