Isolation and characterization of canine, equine and feline mesenchymal stem cells in Uruguay

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are of great interest in veterinary medicine due to their  potential use in regenerative medicine. The attractive characteristics are the ability to promote tissue regeneration, to immunomodulate and easiness of extraction from adult animals. The objective of the present work was the isolation and in vitro characterization of adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) of canine, equine and feline species. The AD-MSCs from 5 canines, 4 equines and 6 felines, were isolated. The cells of each species showed the capacity of forming fibroblast colonies, tridifferentiation in vitro and cells were cryopreserved. In conclusion, it was possible to isolate and in vitro characterize AD-MSCs. A bank of cryopreserved animal MSCs was created, for future therapeutic applications in veterinary medicine and other in vitro studies.