Mesenchimal stem cells for treatment of cartilage defects in sheeps: biomechanical tests ex vivo

Stem cells are self renewing, unspecialized cells that
can give rise to multiple cell types of all tissue of the body. They can
be derived from the embryo, foetus and adult. The aim of our study
was to test mechanical properties of the stem cells from bone marrow
or from umbilical cord, after seeded on fibrin glue and grow and form
cartilage in chondral defects when used for repair the lesion.
Materials and methods Pluripotent cells derived from inner mass
cell of embryos (ES) at the first stages of development (blastocysts)
and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) isolated from bone marrows
aspirates and umbilical cord. The cells were isolated from feeder layer
and seeded on fibrin glue before the transfer. We proceeded with
aspiration of cells in fibrinogen and successively addition of trombin
at time to transplantation. In 6 sheeps, in correspondence of medial
femoral condyle on both knees, we performed a hole 5 mm diameter
and 3 mm in depth with anatomic drill be careful to avoid bleeding,
obtaining an chondral full thickness lesion. The creation of fullthickness
defects was performed in such a manner as to render it
impermeable to blood-borne cells and signalling substances emanating
from the subchondral bone-tissue spaces. After this time, into the
left knee 20 ll of fibrinogeno + 20 ll of of trombina were inserted
whether on right knee 20 ll of fibrinogeno + 20 ll of trombina with
20 ll of pellet into the hole. The new tissue obtained was tested using
the ICRS classification, and analysed biomechanically by the Artscan
200 series. We performed besides immunohistochemical evaluation
of cartilage to check collagen type I.