Evaluation of the Therapeutic Potential of Canine Yolk Sac Cells in Dogs with Hips Dysplasia

Abstract

Currently, stem cell therapy has been a useful tool in regenerative medicine with high therapeutic potential due to the capacity for self-renewal and differentiation of these cells. In recent years, orthopedics has been seeking new methods of treatment to obtain the effect of repair of articular defects more effectively and without invasive procedures. Therefore, many studies involving cell therapy in order to improve the articular repair are being conducted. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapy with yolk sac cells in dogs with hip dysplasia. For the evaluation of the treated animals, we rated the lameness score, muscular atrophy score, a questionnaire about quality of life, radiographic evaluation, synovial fluid analysis and blood count. Bilateral intra-articular applications of yolk sac cells were performed on days 0, 30 and 60, being held the last valuation on day 90. The results showed no significant statistical difference when observed the treated animals compared to the control group. However, observing the clinical improvement of these animals throughout the treatment was evident that cell therapy is beneficial to the animals.