Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Stem cell treatment improves leg function in dogs after spinal cord
By Ryu, Hak Hyun et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary science·2009·Department of Veterinary Surgery, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Functional recovery and neural differentiation after transplantation of allogenic adipose-derived stem cells in a canine model of acute spinal cord injury.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of adult dogs with spinal cord injuries received injections of stem cells derived from fat tissue to see if it would help them recover movement in their back legs. The dogs that got the stem cell treatment showed significant improvement in their ability to move compared to those that did not receive the treatment. This improvement was measured over eight weeks and included better nerve function. The study suggests that these stem cells may help repair nerve damage and improve mobility in dogs with spinal cord injuries.
People also search for: dog spinal cord injury treatment · stem cell therapy for dogs · why is my dog not moving back legs
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated if the implantation of allogenic adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) improved neurological function in a canine spinal cord injury model. Eleven adult dogs were assigned to three groups according to treatment after spinal cord injury by epidural balloon compression: C group (no ASCs treatment as control), V group (vehicle treatment with PBS), and ASC group (ASCs treatment). ASCs or vehicle were injected directly into the injured site 1 week after spinal cord injury. Pelvic limb function after transplantation was evaluated by Olby score. Magnetic resonance imaging, somatosensory evoked potential (SEP), histopathologic and immunohistichemical examinations were also performed. Olby scores in the ASC group increased from 2 weeks after transplantation and were significantly higher than C and V groups until 8 weeks (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the C and V groups. Nerve conduction velocity based on SEP was significantly improved in the ASC group compared to C and V groups (p < 0.05). Positive areas for Luxol fast blue staining were located at the injured site in the ASC group. Also, GFAP, Tuj-1 and NF160 were observed immunohistochemically in cells derived from implanted ASCs. These results suggested that improvement in neurological function by the transplantation of ASCs in dogs with spinal cord injury may be partially due to the neural differentiation of implanted stem cells.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19934591/