8/10/2011 PERMALINK
Researchers use human cells to engineer functional anal sphincters in lab Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have built the first functional anal sphincters in the laboratory. Suggesting a potential future treatment for both the fecal and urinary incontinence that often develops with ageing. Made from muscle and nerve cells, the sphincters developed a blood supply and maintained function when implanted in mice. 'In essence, we have built a replacement sphincter that we hope can one day benefit human patients. This is the first bioengineered sphincter made with both muscle and nerve cells, making it 'pre-wired' for placement in the body,' said senior author Khalil N. Bitar, Ph.D., a professor of regenerative medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's Institute for Regenerative Medicine.