Abstract Purpose: To investigate the therapeutic potential of human immature dental pulp stem cells in the treatment of chronic spinal cord injury in dogs. Methods: Three dogs of different breeds with chronic SCI were presented as animal clinical cases. Human immature dental pulp stem cells were injected at three points into the spinal cord, and the animals were evaluated by limb function and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) pre and post-operative. Results: There was significant improvement from the limb function evaluated by Olby Scale, though it was not supported by the imaging data provided by MRI and clinical sign and evaluation. Conclusion: Human dental pulp stem cell therapy presents promising clinical results in dogs with chronic spinal cord injuries, if used in association with physical therapy.

PURPOSE: To describe a new technique for isolation of a mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) population from the olfactory mucosa in rabbits. METHODS: Olfactory stem cells (OSCs) were retrieved from under the cribriform plate of the Ethmoid bone. Several assays were accomplished to characterize the cell population and attest its viability in vitro. The cells were submitted to flow cytometry with the antibodies CD34, CD45, CD73, CD79, CD90 and CD105 and also they were induced to differentiate in three lineages. Functional evaluation involved analysis of in vitro growth behavior, colony forming unit like fibroblasts (CFU-f) and cryopreservation response. Further transduction with Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) was also performed. RESULTS: The OSCs showed mesenchymal features, as positive response to CD34, CD73 and CD90 antibodies and plasticity. Additionally, these cells have high proliferated rate, and they could be cultured through many passages and kept the ability to proliferate and differentiate after cryopreservation. The positive response to the transduction signalizes the possibility of cellular tracking in vivo. This is a desirable feature in case those cells are used for pre-clinical trials. CONCLUSION: The cells harvested were mesenchymal stem cells and the technique described is therefore efficient for rabbit olfactory stem cells isolation.

PURPOSE:The use of the collared peccary as an experimental model for ischemic nephropathy.METHODS:A total of 12 collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) was used and ischemic nephropathy was induced in six of these animals that constituted the experimental group (G1) while the other six formed the control group (G2). Ischemic nephropathy was induced surgically by partial occlusion of the left renal artery. The disease course was assessed by hematological tests, serum chemistry, urinalysis, ultrasound (US) and doppler ultrasound function of the renal artery before induction, and at five, 10, 15 and 20 days after surgery. Twenty days after the occlusion, unilateral nephrectomy and histopathological examination were performed to assess renal morphology.RESULTS:Statistical analysis by Fischer's test showed a significant difference (p<0.05) between the control group and the experimental group. The histopathological examination showed glomerular, tubular and interstitial lesions. In the experimental group, 83.3% (5 /6) showed moderate renal lesions and only 16.7% (1/6) were classified with no lesions. The ultrasound examination of the right kidney presented statistical difference between day 5 and day 10 post occlusion.CONCLUSION:The collared peccary as a good experimental model for ischemic renal disease, because it could be manipulated during the research time without death, with health conditions that permit any subsequent procedure for disease therapy.

PURPOSE:To characterize bone marrow progenitors cells grown in vitro,using native goats from northeastern Brazil as animal model.METHODS:Ten northeastern Brazil native goats of both genders were used from the Piauí Federal University Agricultural Science Center's (UFPI) - Goat Farming Sector. Bone marrow aspirates where taken from the tibial ridge and seeded on culture plates for isolation, expansion and Flow Cytometry (expression markers - Oct-3/4, PCNA, Ck-Pan, Vimentina, Nanog).RESULTS:Progenitor cells showed colonies characterized by the presence of cell pellets with fibroblastoid morphology. Cell confluence was taken after 14 days culture and the non-adherent mononuclear cell progressive reduction. After the first passage, 94.36% cell viability was observed, starting from 4.6 x 106 cell/mL initially seeded. Cells that went through flow cytometry showed positive expression for Oct-3/4, PCNA, Ck-Pan, Vimentina, and Nanog.CONCLUSIONS:Bone marrow progenitor isolated of native goats from northeastern Brazil showed expression markers also seen in embryonic stem cells (Oct-3/4, Nanog), markers of cell proliferation (PCNA) and markers for mesenchymal cells (Vimentina and Ck-pan), which associated to morphological and culture growth features, suggest the existence of a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) population in the goat bone marrow stromal cells studied.

OBJETIVO: Testar diferentes protocolos para o isolamento de células tronco a partir de sangue de cordão umbilical e tecido adiposo de ovinos. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizadas cinco amostras de sangue de cordão umbilical e cinco amostras de tecido adiposo perirrenal de 10 fêmeas de ovelha. A coleta das amostras foi realizada através de procedimento cirúrgico para coleta do material de forma mais asséptica possível. Foram realizados três protocolos de isolamento e cultivo das células-tronco do cordão umbilical e quatro protocolos para o isolamento e cultivo das células-tronco de gordura de ovinos RESULTADOS: Somente um dos protocolos utilizados para o isolamento das células-tronco de cordão umbilical foi efetivo. Dos quatro protocolos utilizados para isolamento das células-tronco de gordura, da mesma forma, apenas um obteve sucesso. Foi realizado o ensaio de unidades formadoras de colônias destas células, sendo contadas 58 colônias ao final de sete dias. Na citometria de fluxo essas células mostraram-se positivas para CD44 e negativas para CD38, CD45, CD41/61. Estas células apresentaram curva de crescimento com fases de LOG, LAG e PLATEAU bem definidas, características das curvas de crescimento das células-tronco de origem mesenquimal. CONCLUSÕES: O isolamento e cultivo das células-tronco mesenquimais do cordão umbilical de ovinos é de difícil realização, exigindo maiores ensaios e estudos profundos. Células tronco do tecido adiposo de ovelhas demonstraram características mesenquimais, de acordo com a curva de crescimento, habilidade de formação de colônias, células com morfologia fibroblastóide e reação positiva ao anticorpo CD44.

PURPOSE: To evaluate different protocols to isolate stem cells from ovine umbilical cord blood and adipose tissue. METHODS: There were used 5 samples of umbilical blood and 5 samples of perirenal adipose tissue from 10 female sheep. All the samples were obtained through surgery, to harvest aseptic samples. There were used 3 protocols for obtainment and culture of umbilical cord blood stem cells and 4 protocols for ovine adipose tissue stem cells. RESULTS: It was possible to observe only one successful protocol for the obtainment of umbilical cord blood stem cells. When analyzing the techniques used to obtain adipose tissue stem cells, only one of the methods was effective as well. Through colony forming unit assay, there were obtained 58 colonies of cells after seven days in culture. Flow citometry tests revealed the cells were positive to CD44 and exhibited negative reaction to CD38, CD45, CD41/61. These cells showed a growth curve with very well defined phases LOG, LAG and PLATEAU. This phases are typically seem in mesenchymal stem cells growth curves. CONCLUSIONS: The isolation and culture of mesenchymal stem cells from ovine umbilical cord blood are complex and request more detailed assays. Stem cells from fat tissue sheep showed mesenchymal characteristics, according to their cell growth curve, ability to origin colonies of fibroblastoid cells and positive reactivity with the antibody CD44 by flow citometry.

OBJETIVO: Verificar os efeitos das células-tronco mesenquimais da medula óssea de ovinos e da polpa dentária imatura humana em ovinos com osteonecrose induzida, da cabeça do fêmur. MÉTODOS: Oito ovelhas foram distribuídas em três grupos experimentais. O primeiro grupo foi composto por quatro animais com osteonecrose da cabeça do fêmur induzida por etanol através da descompressão central, que não receberam nenhum tratamento. O segundo e o terceiro grupo, cada um composto por dois animais, receberam transplante heterólogo de células tronco mesenquimais de ovinos e polpa dentária imatura humana seis semanas após a indução da osteonecrose da cabeça do fêmur, respectivamente. Em ambos os grupos experimentais as células foram transplantadas sem o uso de drogas imunossupressoras. RESULTADOS: Os achados demonstram que as células-tronco mesenquimais injetadas na cabeça do fêmur se encontravam viáveis após o transplante no novo sítio e proliferaram em pouco tempo. Os dados histológicos sugerem que a regeneração óssea nos animais transplantados com polpa dentária imatura humana foi mais rápida do que nos animais submetidos somente a descompressão central. CONCLUSÃO: O transplante de células tronco mesenquimais na osteonecrose da cabeça do fêmur induzida em ovinos através da técnica de descompressão central é um procedimento seguro, e aparentemente favorece a regeneração óssea de tecidos lesados.

PURPOSE: Evaluate the bone tissue recovery following transplantation of ovine mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from bone marrow and human immature dental-pulp stem cells (hIDPSC) in ovine model of induced osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH). METHODS: Eight sheep were divided in three experimental groups. First group was composed by four animals with ONFH induced by ethanol through central decompression (CD), for control group without any treatment. The second and third group were compose by two animals, six weeks after ONFH induction received transplantation of heterologous ovine MSC (CD + oMSC), and hIDPSC (CD + hIDPSC), respectively. In both experiments the cells were transplanted without application of any type of immunosupression protocol. RESULTS: Our data indicate that both cell types used in experiments were able to proliferate within injured site providing bone tissue recovery. The histological results obtained from CD+hIDPSC suggested that the bone regeneration in such animals was better than that observed in CD animals. CONCLUSION: Mesenchymal stem cell transplant in induced ovine osteonecrosis of femoral head by central decompression technique is safe, and apparently favors bone regeneration of damaged tissues.