Use of Autologous Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Bone Marrow for the Treatment of Naturally Injured Spinal Cord in Dogs

The use of stem cells in injury repair has been extensively investigated. Here, we examined the therapeutic effects of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) transplantation in four dogs with natural traumatic spinal cord injuries. MSC were cultured in vitro, and proliferation rate and...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Stem Cells International Vol. 2014; no. 2014; pp. 230 - 237
Main Authors:	Soares, Milena Botelho, Ribeiro-dos-Santos, Ricardo, Pinheiro, Taiana Maria Bahia, Pinheiro, Cláudia Maria Bahia, Gravely, Faye Alice, Mendonça, Marcus Vinícius Pinheiro, Guimarães, Elisalva Teixeira, Meira, Cássio Santana, Penha, Euler Moraes, Barrouin-Melo, Stella Maria
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Limiteds 01-01-2014 Hindawi Publishing Corporation John Wiley & Sons, Inc Hindawi Limited
Subjects:	Care and treatment Dogs Injuries Spinal cord injuries Stem cells Transplantation
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	The use of stem cells in injury repair has been extensively investigated. Here, we examined the therapeutic effects of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) transplantation in four dogs with natural traumatic spinal cord injuries. MSC were cultured in vitro, and proliferation rate and cell viability were evaluated. Cell suspensions were prepared and surgically administered into the spinal cord. The animals were clinically evaluated and examined by nuclear magnetic resonance. Ten days after the surgical procedure and MSC transplantation, we observed a progressive recovery of the panniculus reflex and diminished superficial and deep pain response, although there were still low proprioceptive reflexes in addition to a hyperreflex in the ataxic hind limb movement responses. Each dog demonstrated an improvement in these gains over time. Conscious reflex recovery occurred simultaneously with moderate improvement in intestine and urinary bladder functions in two of the four dogs. By the 18th month of clinical monitoring, we observed a remarkable clinical amelioration accompanied by improved movement, in three of the four dogs. However, no clinical gain was associated with alterations in magnetic resonance imaging. Our results indicate that MSC are potential candidates for the stem cell therapy following spinal cord injury.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Academic Editor: Eva Mezey
ISSN:	1687-966X 1687-9678 1687-9678
DOI:	10.1155/2014/437521