Kidney transplantation is now one of the most effective treatment for end-stage renal failure. However, organ shortage remains a major problem. Hence, an alternative solution for the limited donor organs is in great need. Xenotransplantation of metanephros and cell-scaffold technology (CST) provide new ways for kidney regeneration. The structure and function of regenerated kidneys using these two methods are compared to identify the trend for kidney regeneration. Kidney scaffolds, which were

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... ellularized by SDS perfusion, were recellularized with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. Metanephros from embryonic day 13.5 were transplanted into the omentum of adult rats. After cultured in vivo for a period, the structural integrity was evaluated. The quantity and type of cells of kidney generated from metanephros were much more than that of the kidney regenerated from CST. But the latter was more suitable for transplantation. Both kidney regeneration methods have their own advantages, and one method which could offer all these advantages may be the optimal way for kidney transplantation.