Actas Urol Esp. 2017;41(8):504---510 Actas Urol´ogicas Espa˜ nolas www.elsevier.es/actasuro ORIGINAL ARTICLE Is there room for luminal-basal urothelial cell population quantification?  G.R. Passos a , J.A. Camargo a , K.L. Ferrari a , G.C. Franch Jr. a , A.E. Nowill a , L.O. Reis b,∗ a School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil b Urologic Oncology Department, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas PUC-Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil Received 23 October 2016; accepted 21 November 2016 Available online 15 September 2017 KEYWORDS Luminal; Basal; Intermediate; Prognostic; Urothelium Abstract Purpose: Three cell layers compose the urothelium: basal, intermediate and luminal (‘‘umbrella cells’’) and different diseases might arise from different cell populations. The aim of this study is to analyze the quantification ability of such cell populations by using four different protocols. Methods: Twenty male rats (Wistar) were randomized in four groups of five animals: scraping, enzymatic 30, 45 and 60 min. The cells were isolated, analyzed by flow cytometer and data processed by BD FACSDIVA TM software. Results: The urothelium was separated in two cell populations that are different in size and complexity. The group that showed more efficiency in cells dissociation and cells separation was enzymatic protocol 45 min. Conclusions: Enzymatic protocol 45 min was able to isolate urothelial cell populations and might be explored as potential prognostic tool, patient selection and therapeutic target in urothe- lial diseases. Future studies should validate the potential clinical application to the proposed rational of luminal-basal paradigm in the urothelial cancer as hope for individualized approach. © 2017 AEU. Published by Elsevier Espa˜ na, S.L.U. All rights reserved.  Please cite this article as: Passos GR, Camargo JA, Ferrari KL, Franch GC, Nowill AE, Reis LO. ¿Hay lugar para la cuantificación de la población de células uroteliales luminales basales? Actas Urol Esp. 2017;41:504---510. ∗ Corresponding author. E-mail address: reisleo.l@gmail.com (L.O. Reis). 2173-5786/© 2017 AEU. Published by Elsevier Espa˜ na, S.L.U. All rights reserved.