Search Results (131)

Introduction/Objectives: Ginsenoside F1, a pharmacologically active saponin derived from Panax ginseng, exhibits diverse bioactivities, but its use is limited because it is difficult to purify and has high production costs. To overcome these challenges, a ginsenoside F1-enriched extract named SGB121 was developed. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of SGB121 in a high-fat, high-carbohydrate (HFHC) diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) mouse model and to elucidate its mechanism of action using F1-based cellular assays. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice (6 weeks old) were fed an HFHC diet to induce MAFLD and were treated with SGB121. Hepatic lipid accumulation, oxidative stress markers, and metabolic parameters were analyzed. In parallel, human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells exposed to free fatty acids (FFAs) were used to assess oxidative stress and lipid accumulation. Mechanistic studies were conducted using purified F1 to examine adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and related pathways. Results: SGB121 reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and fasting insulin while restoring glutathione (GSH) content and improving the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in MAFLD mice. In FFA-treated HepG2 cells, both SGB121 and F1 decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS), suppressed sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), enhanced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) and β-oxidation, and restored insulin receptor substrate (IRS)/protein kinase B (Akt)/glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) signaling. Conclusions: SGB121 ameliorates MAFLD and related metabolic dysfunction through antioxidant, lipid-regulating, and insulin-sensitizing actions, highlighting its potential as a safe multifunctional nutraceutical for MAFLD management. Full article

Gene expression plays a fundamental role in defining the characteristics of living organisms. To deepen our understanding of tissue-specific gene expression, we analyzed transcript variant enrichment across different tissues in human and Drosophila melanogaster. Datasets are widely accessible for both of these organisms. Given the substantial volume of available information, we have focused our interest on three fundamentally distinct tissues: the brain, where both neuronal and glial cells exhibit a relatively high cellular surface area, thus requiring a large amount of lipids; the adipose tissue, which is well-known for lipid storage; and the testis, which contains a massive number of developing spermatids with high membrane requirement. These three organs have fundamental differences in their structure and function yet share some common features; they all have lipid-rich cells and have special metabolic pathways. Most studies focus on gene expression, and transcript level analyses are less common; therefore, we aimed to characterize the transcript profiles of these tissues and examine evolutionarily conserved pathways between humans and Drosophila. Additionally, we analyzed the flanking sequences of transcriptional start sites of tissue-enriched transcripts. Our findings suggest that Drosophila tissues exhibit more distinct regulation of gene expression in individual tissues (weaker correlation in expression and variable nucleotide content in core promoter), whereas human gene expression is more generalized, likely relying more heavily on distal regulatory elements for tissue-specific expression. Through network analysis, summarizing tissue specificity, physical interactions, and orthologue data, we identified shared central pathways among these tissues. A relatively large network was observable in the testis, where the ubiquitin proteasome system, various kinases and transcription factors showed central position in both organisms. Additionally, we highlighted the evolutionary potential of highly enriched testis-specific transcripts. This work provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying tissue-specific gene expression and evolutionary conservation. Full article

The objective of this study was to develop novel alloys of the Ti-15Nb-xTa system (x = 0, 10, 20, and 30 wt.%) and to evaluate the effect of tantalum addition on the structure, microstructure, hardness, and elastic modulus for biomedical applications. The ingots were produced using an arc melting furnace under a controlled argon atmosphere. Chemical composition analyses were performed using energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to determine the alloying element fractions and to conduct chemical mapping. The Thermo-Calc software (https://thermocalc.com/, 4 September 2024) was employed to predict the influence of Ta on the phase transformation temperatures. Structural and microstructural characterizations were performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD patterns enabled the identification of the phases, the relative volume fractions, and the lattice parameters of the unit cells. As mechanical properties, Vickers microhardness and elastic modulus were measured. The results revealed that increasing Ta content decreased the β-transus temperature but increased the melting temperature of the alloys. Structural and microstructural characterizations indicated that the Ti-15Nb alloy consisted of α′ + α″ phases, Ti-15Nb-10Ta of α″ + β phases, Ti-15Nb-20Ta of α″ + β + ω phases, and Ti-15Nb-30Ta of metastable β phase. Hardness and elastic modulus results exhibited similar behavior: the alloy with the highest fraction of the α″ phase (Ti-15Nb-10Ta) displayed the lowest hardness and elastic modulus, whereas the alloy containing the ω phase (Ti-15Nb-20Ta) presented significantly higher values. Among the studied alloys, Ti-15Nb-10Ta stands out due to its low elastic modulus (57 GPa). In vitro cellular assays demonstrated that Ti-15Nb-Ta alloys promote osteoblast proliferation while exhibiting no cytotoxicity. Full article

Varicose disease and other age-related vascular illnesses are extremely prevalent among the adult population. Despite this, research devoted to involutive changes in the veins of the lower extremities is rare and fragmented. Complex morphological evaluation of the wall of the vein related to age and varicose disease can add valuable data to fundamental geriatric and vascular medicine. Objectives: The study was designed to determine the age-related changes in the muscular component of the great saphenous vein and changes associated with varicose disease. Materials and Methods: A morphological study of a specimen of the great saphenous vein was conducted on 55 deceased individuals and 80 patients with varicose disease. Four age subgroups were identified: young, middle-aged, elderly, and senile. A total of 135 fragments of the great saphenous vein were evaluated. Histological, morphometric, and electron microscopic studies were performed. A quantitative analysis of the volumetric fraction of muscular components was calculated using the Shapiro–Wilk test, Kruskal–Wallis (ANOVA) and Mann–Whitney methods with Bonferroni correction. Results: Our study showed that the amount of connective tissue elements between bundles of smooth muscle cells increased with age. In patients with varicose disease, we observed an appearance of connective tissue fibers among smooth muscle cells, more pronounced with the disease progression. The structure of smooth muscle cell changes. Thus, we observed hypertrophy and phenotypic heterogeneity of cells with subsequent destruction of communicative contacts. The values of subintimal longitudinally arranged smooth muscle cells reached their maximum in middle age in both normal and varicose veins, while significant decrease occurred in elderly and senile patients. Quantitative indicators of circularly arranged smooth muscle cells of the middle layer did not change with age but significantly decreased in varicose disease. Age-related changes are characterized by an increase in the proportion of smooth muscle cells in the outer layer. In varicose veins, in young and middle-aged patients, the content of bundles of longitudinally arranged smooth muscle cells in the outer layer was higher compared to the age norm, with a significant decrease in senile age. Conclusions: The age norm of the muscular component of the great saphenous vein wall is characterized by an increase in the volumetric fraction of subintimal longitudinally arranged smooth muscle cells in middle age, the volumetric fraction of circularly arranged smooth muscle cells of the middle layer remains unchanged, and the volumetric fraction of bundles of longitudinally arranged myocytes of the outer layer increases. With age in varicose disease, sclerotic changes progress in the structure of the great saphenous vein at the tissue, cellular, and intracellular levels, leading to a decrease in the volumetric fraction of all muscular components of the great saphenous vein structure. Full article

This review summarizes the available evidence on hyaluronic acid’s (HA’s) role in immune response. HA is one of many components in the extracellular matrix that transmits signals from the extracellular microenvironment to cellular effector systems in immune cells. The final effect of these interactions depends on the type of cells and receptors used and the size of HA particles. HA’s activation of intracellular signaling pathways leads to an immune response involving the release of pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. These play a crucial role in defense mechanisms, such as protecting against pathogens and tissue healing after injuries. HA, as a signaling particle, is also involved in the intensification of the cytokine storm during COVID-19. Multifold increases in HA content in the lungs and the strength of its impact on the immune system define an “HA storm”. The molecular mechanisms involved in inflammation and initiation, including the promotion of cancer, also begin in the microenvironment, and hyaluronic acid is a key element. In this paper, we focus on intra- and intercellular signaling pathways using HA participation rather than injection preparation based on HA use for esthetic treatment. Full article

Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) foliar application offers a promising strategy for enhancing lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) resilience under temperature extremes, salinity, and drought stress. This study investigated the effects of SiO₂ treatment on three lettuce cultivars exposed to varying temperature, salinity, and drought conditions in a controlled growth chamber environment. Silicon treatment (3.66 mM) significantly enhanced plant biomass under suboptimal (15 °C), optimal (20 °C), and salinity stress conditions. Notably, the SiO₂ effect was most positive under severe salinity stress (100 mM NaCl), where its application increased plant weight together with chlorophyll and anthocyanin content. When increasing SiO₂ concentrations from 0 to 29.30 mM were tested, optimal results to alleviate severe salinity stress were consistently observed at 3.66 mM, with peak performance in fresh weight, plant diameter, chlorophyll, and anthocyanin content. Higher SiO₂ concentrations progressively diminished these beneficial effects, with 29.30 mM treatment leading to reduced growth and increased leaf chlorosis. Comprehensive mineral composition analysis revealed complex interactions between silicon treatment and elemental profiles at 100 mM salinity stress. At 3.66 mM SiO₂, plants accumulated the highest levels of both K (20,406 mg/kg dry weight, DW) and Na (16,185 mg/kg DW) while maintaining the highest K/Na ratio (1.26). This suggests that Si enhances cellular ion compartmentalization rather than exclusion mechanisms, allowing plants to manage higher total ion content better while minimizing cytoplasmic damage. Drought stress conditions unexpectedly revealed negative impacts from 3.66 mM SiO₂ application, with decreased plant fresh weight at moderate (50% soil water content, SWC) and severe (30% SWC) water limitations, though results were statistically significant only under severe drought stress. The study highlights silicon’s potential as a stress mitigation agent, particularly under salinity stress, while emphasizing the need for concentration-specific and stress-specific approaches. These findings suggest that foliar SiO₂ application could be a valuable tool for enhancing lettuce crop productivity under both optimal and challenging environmental conditions, with future research warranting field validation and full market maturity assessments. Full article

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element required for various physiological functions in agriculture. Nanotechnology is applied to produce selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) that offer new advantages, enhancing their bioavailability and reducing toxicity. To further improve the stability of Se nanoelements in the poultry industry, the grey form of Se was recently offered as a potential alternative. However, its impact on bioaccessibility, metabolism, and overall animal efficiency remains undetermined. This study investigates the impact of red and grey SeNPs on Se content in the liver, blood cellular fraction (BCF), kidney, testis, and eyes, as well as the feed intake (FI) and growth performance, of adult Japanese quails. Adult quails were randomly assigned to five groups: a control (C0) and four groups receiving either red or grey Se nanoparticles (SeNPs) at 0.05 or 0.5 mg/kg, in addition to the basal diet which already contained 0.042 mg/kg Se from the premix, resulting in total Se contents of approximately 0.092 and 0.542 mg/kg in the treatment groups (T1–T4), with four replicates per group. The growth performance of quails fed with nano-Se-supplemented diets showed significant variation across groups (p < 0.05), with body weight differing by up to 20% between the highest performing group (T2) and the lowest (T1). FI showed no significant differences across groups. The results indicated that Se accumulation differed significantly between treatments. The selenium levels in the liver increased in a dose-dependent manner, with the highest accumulation observed in T4 (0.5 mg/kg grey SeNPs), at 42% above control levels. This pattern suggests that the liver is a primary organ for selenium storage and metabolism. The greatest Se content in BCFs was recorded in the groups that received grey selenium (T3 and T4) and red selenium at high concentrations (T2), while the group given red selenium at low concentrations (T1) and the control (C0) had the lowest Se accumulation. In the kidney tissues and testis, the Se content exhibited no significant differences between the treated groups and the control. The observed variations in the eye and breast muscle Se content among treatment groups reflect the differences in selenium bioavailability, metabolism, and tissue-specific regulatory mechanisms. These findings demonstrate that grey SeNPs can significantly elevate Se bioavailability in quails, particularly in target organs, and enhance the growth performance without notable changes in feed intake. This highlights the potential of SeNPs in enhancing quail nutrition, although further research is needed to establish optimal dosing strategies for safe, effective use. Full article

Heavy metal toxicity leads to impaired crop growth and reduced crop yields and product quality by disrupting plant nutrient uptake, inhibiting development, inducing oxidative stress, and causing cellular toxicity. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can play a crucial role in crops’ adaptation to manganese (Mn) toxicity by regulating nutrient uptake and altering subcellular compartmentalization. The present study examines the influence of intact extraradical mycelia (ERMs) from native AMF on wheat (Triticum aestivum) grown in Mn-toxic soil, with a focus on the tissue-specific and subcellular Ca, Mg, P, and Mn distribution. Wheat cultivated in soil pre-colonized using an intact ERM associated with Lolium rigidum or Ornithopus compressus exhibited enhanced growth and improved P contents. During the first week of growth, the Mn concentrations increased in the wheat’s roots and shoots, but Mn was subsequently reduced and sequestered within the cell wall. In contrast, in the absence of an intact ERM, the Mn accumulation in wheat followed an apparent continuous time-course pattern. AMF-mediated cell wall sequestration seems to contribute to Mn detoxification by limiting excessive cytoplasmic accumulation. Furthermore, AMF-driven changes in the element distribution suggest a dynamic response, wherein an early-stage nutrient uptake transitions into a long-term protective mechanism. These findings highlight the potential of AMF in mitigating Mn stress in crops, providing insights for sustainable agriculture and soil remediation strategies. Full article

The long-interspersed elements (LINE-1; L1) represent the main active family of retrotransposons in the human organism, comprising approximately 17% of its content. L1 sequence codifies for the two proteins involved in its retrotransposition: ORF1p, an RNA binding protein, and ORF2p, endowed with endonuclease and reverse transcriptase activity. The vast majority of L1 copies are inactive, with only a small percentage retaining their retrotransposition capacity, posing a threat to the organism due to its mutagenic potential. To mitigate such risks, mammals have evolved intricate regulatory mechanisms, including heterochromatin formation and RNA degradation pathways. Age-related diminution in these regulatory pathways may be particularly important within the Central Nervous System (CNS), where cellular regeneration is limited, and genomic integrity is critical for lifelong function. Here, we describe an age-associated upregulation of ORF1p in the mouse brain, indicating a potential role of L1 activity in aging. We further demonstrate the presence of ORF1p across diverse CNS cell types, including neurons, oligodendrocytes and microglia. Notably, we observe a correlation between ORF1p presence and microglial activation, a hallmark of neuroinflammation, during aging. This study advances our understanding of L1 dynamics in the CNS and underscores the significance of L1 in age-related neurological changes. Full article

To investigate the methane adsorption characteristics in different types of kerogen, microscopic models for three kerogen types—sapropelic (Type I), mixed (Type II), and humic (Type III)—were developed in this paper based on the paradigm diagram. Using Materials Studio 2020 software, a combination of molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo adsorption simulations was employed to examine the kerogen from the molecular structure to the cellular structure, with an analysis rooted in thermodynamic theory. The results indicated that the elemental composition of kerogen significantly influenced both the heat of adsorption and the adsorption position, with sulfur (S) having the greatest effect. Specifically, the C-S bond shifted the methane adsorption position horizontally by 0.861 Å and increased the adsorption energy by 1.418 kJ. Among the three types of kerogen crystals, a relationship was observed among the adsorption amount, limiting adsorption energy, and specific adsorption energy, with Type I < Type II < Type III. Additionally, the limiting adsorption energy was greater than the specific adsorption energy. The limiting adsorption energy of Type Ⅲ was only 28.436 kJ/mol, which indicates that methane is physically adsorbed in the kerogen. Regarding the diffusion coefficient, the value of 0.0464 Ų/Ps in the micropores of Type I kerogen was significantly higher than that in Types II and III, though it was much smaller than the diffusion coefficient observed in the macropores. Additionally, adsorption causes volumetric and effective pore volume expansion in kerogen crystals, which occurs in two phases: slow expansion and rapid expansion. Higher types of kerogen require a larger adsorption volume to reach the rapid expansion phase and expand more quickly. However, during the early stage of adsorption, the expansion rate is extremely low, and even a slight shrinkage may occur. Therefore, in shale gas extraction, it is crucial to design the extraction strategy based on the content and adsorption characteristics of the three kerogen types in order to enhance shale gas production and improve extraction efficiency. Full article

Hypercapnia, the elevation of CO₂ in blood and tissue, is a risk factor for mortality in patients with severe lung disease and pulmonary infections. We previously showed that hypercapnia increases viral replication and mortality in mice infected with influenza A virus (IAV). Elevated CO₂ also augmented cholesterol content and pseudo-SARS-CoV-2 entry in bronchial epithelial cells. Interestingly, cellular cholesterol facilitates IAV uptake, replication, assembly, and egress from cells. Here, we report that hypercapnia increases viral protein expression in airway epithelium of mice infected with IAV. Elevated CO₂ also enhanced IAV adhesion and internalization, viral protein expression, and viral replication in bronchial epithelial cells. Hypercapnia increased the expression and activation of the transcription factor sterol-regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2), resulting in elevated expression of cholesterol synthesis enzymes, decreased expression of a cholesterol efflux transporter, and augmented cellular cholesterol. Moreover, reducing cellular cholesterol with an SREBP2 inhibitor or statins blocked hypercapnia-induced increases in viral adhesion and internalization, viral protein expression, and IAV replication. Inhibitors of mTOR and Akt also blocked the effect of hypercapnia on viral growth. Our findings suggest that targeting cholesterol synthesis and/or mTOR/Akt signaling may hold promise for reducing susceptibility to influenza infection in patients with advanced lung disease and hypercapnia. Full article

Two novel marine hydrogen- and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, designated HSL1-7^T and HSL3-1^T, were isolated from mangrove sediments from Fujian Province, China. Strain HSL1-7^T exhibited Gram-negative, rod-shaped to slightly curved morphology with polar flagellum-driven motility, whereas strain HSL3-1^T was Gram-negative, rod-shaped and non-motile. Strain HSL1-7^T and HSL3-1^T were obligate chemolithoautotrophs, capable of using molecular hydrogen and thiosulfate as an energy source, and molecular oxygen and elemental sulfur as the electron acceptors for growth. Cellular fatty acid profiles revealed similar predominant components (C_16:1ω7c, C_16:0, C_18:1ω7c, and C_14:0) in both strains. Strains HSL1-7^T and HSL3-1^T were strongly diazotrophic, as demonstrated by ¹⁵N₂ fixation when a fixed nitrogen source was absent from the growth medium. The DNA G+C contents of strains HSL1-7^T and HSL3-1^T were determined to be 36.1% and 57.3%, respectively. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, strains HSL1-7^T and HSL3-1^T exhibited the highest sequence similarities with Sulfurimonas marina B2^T (98.5% and 94.45%, respectively). Notably, the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains HSL1-7^T and HSL3-1^T was 93.19%, indicating that they represent distinct species within the genus Sulfurimonas. Comparative genomic analyses revealed the presence of diverse metabolic profiles in strains HSL1-7^T and HSL3-1^T, including carbon fixation, hydrogen oxidation, sulfur oxidation, and nitrogen fixation. The combined phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic evidence, including average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values, shows that strains HSL1-7^T and HSL3-1^T represent two novel species of the genus Sulfurimonas for which the names Sulfurimonas microaerophilic sp. nov. and Sulfurimonas diazotrophicus sp. nov. are proposed, with the type strains HSL1-7^T (=MCCC 1A18899^T = KCTC 25640^T) and HSL3-1^T (=MCCC 1A18844^T), respectively. Full article

Iron is a trace element that is indispensable for the growth and development of animals. Excessive iron supplementation may lead to iron overload and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in animals, causing cellular damage. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism by which iron overload causes cell injury remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, 16 male SD rats aged 6 to 7 weeks were randomly assigned to either a control group (CON) or an iron overload group (IO). Rats in the iron overload group received 150 mg/kg iron dextran injections every three days for a duration of four weeks. The results indicated that iron treatment with iron dextran significantly increased the scores of steatosis (p < 0.05) and inflammation (p < 0.05) in the NAS score. The integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analysis suggests that HO-1 and Lnc286.2 are potentially significant in iron overload-induced liver injury in rats. In vitro experiments utilizing ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) were conducted to establish an iron overload model in rat liver-derived BRL-3A cells. The result found that FAC treatment can significantly increase the BRL-3A cell’s Fe²⁺ content (p < 0.05), ROS (p < 0.01), lipid ROS (p < 0.01) levels, and the expression of the HO-1 gene and protein (p < 0.01), aligning with proteomic and transcriptomic findings. HO-1 inhibition can significantly decrease BRL-3A cell vitality (p < 0.01) and promote ROS (p < 0.05) and lipid ROS (p < 0.01), thus aggravating FAC-induced BRL-3A cell iron overload damage. Using the agonist of HO-1 agonist cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) to induce HO-1 overexpression can significantly alleviate the decrease in FAC-induced BRL-3A cell viability (p < 0.01), ROS (p < 0.01), and lipid ROS (p < 0.01). In addition, siLnc286.2 treatment can increase HO-1 expression, alleviate the decline of FAC-induced BRL-3A cell activity, and increase lipid ROS (p < 0.05) content. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that by suppressing the expression of Lnc286.2, we can enhance the expression of HO-1, which in turn alleviates lipid peroxidation in cells and increases their antioxidant capacity, thereby exerting a protective effect against liver cell injury induced by iron overload. Full article

Composite coatings reinforced with varying mass fractions of SiC particles were successfully fabricated on 316 stainless steel substrates via laser cladding. The phase compositions, elemental distribution, microstructural characteristics, hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the composite coatings were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Vickers hardness testing, friction-wear testing and electrochemical methods. The coatings have no obvious pores, cracks or other defects. The phase compositions of the Hastelloy C276 coating includes γ-(Ni, Fe), Ni₂C, M₆C, M₂(C, N) and M₂₃C₆. SiC addition resulted in the formation of high-hardness phases, such as Cr₃Si and S₅C₃, with their peak intensity increasing with SiC content. The dendrites extend from the bonding zone towards the top of the coatings, and the crystal direction diffuses from the bottom to each area. Compared with the dendritic crystals formed at the bottom, the microstructure at the top is mostly equiaxed crystals and cellular crystals with smaller volume. When SiC powder particles are present around the crystals, the microstructure of the cladding layer grows acicular crystals containing Si and C. These acicular crystals tend to extend away from the residual SiC powder particles, and the grain size in this region is smaller and more densely distributed. This indicates that both melted and unmelted SiC powder particles can contribute to refining the grain structure of the cladding layer. The optimal SiC addition was determined to be 9 wt%, yielding an average microhardness of 670.1 HV_0.5, which is 3.05 times that of the substrate and 1.19 times that of the 0 wt% SiC coating. The wear resistance was significantly enhanced, reflected by a friction coefficient of 0.17 (43.59% of the substrate, 68% of 0 wt%) and a wear rate of 14.32 × 10⁻⁶ mm³N⁻¹·m⁻¹ (27.35% of the substrate, 40.74% of 0 wt%). The self-corrosion potential measured at 315 mV, with a self-corrosion current density of 6.884 × 10⁻⁶ A/cm², and the electrochemical charge-transfer resistance was approximately 25 times that of the substrate and 1.26 times that of the 0 wt%. In this work, SiC-reinforced Hastelloy-SiC composite coating was studied, which provides a new solution to improve the hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel. Full article

This study evaluates the effects of two decellularization protocols, enzyme-detergent (ED) and detergent-detergent (DD), on the structural and biomechanical properties of human urethral tissue. Urethral samples from 18 individuals were divided into ED (n = 7) and DD (n = 11) groups, with native samples (n = 3) serving as controls. Histological and ultrastructural analyses confirmed that both protocols effectively removed cellular content while preserving essential extracellular matrix (ECM) elements, such as collagen and elastic fibers. Immunohistochemical staining for collagen IV and fibronectin revealed no significant differences between decellularized and native tissues, indicating intact ECM structure. Biomechanical testing demonstrated that DD-treated tissues had significantly lower Cauchy stress (1494.8 ± 518.4 kPa) when compared to native tissues (2439.7 ± 578.7 kPa, p = 0.013), while ED-treated tissues were similar to both groups. Both decellularized groups exhibited reduced stretch at failure and elastic modulus compared to native tissues. Cytotoxicity assays using adipose-derived stem cells demonstrated no signs of toxicity in either protocol. Overall, both ED and DD protocols effectively preserved the urethral ECM structure and mechanical properties, making them suitable for potential use in tissue-engineered grafts and for biobanking purposes. Further research is needed to refine and optimize decellularization methods to improve scaffold recellularization and ensure clinical safety and efficacy. Full article