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.