Smooth muscle actin and collagen immunohistochemical evaluation in the endometrium of mares treated with bone narrow stem cells

Abstract

Stem cells have been used to treat chronic degenerative diseases in horses. Currently, therapies like mesenchymal stem cells have been used to improve acute and chronic inflammatory conditions in tendons, joints and lower airways with good results [Barry andMurphy, Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2004;36:568-841]. Recently bone narrow stem cells (BNSC) therapy was used in the treatment of mares with chronic degenerative endometrial disease. After SC treatment improvement in endometrial activity, distribution and glandular density was detected [Carmo et al., Reprod. Dom. Anim. 2012;47(Suppl. 4):591]. Alpha-smooth muscle actin (Alpha-sm-actin) is a functional marker for fibroblast subtypes that remodels the extracellular matrix. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of therapy with BNSC over collagen and Alpha-sm-actin in endometrial tissue of mares with chronic degenerative disease. Eighteen endometrial biopsies were taken from nine mares aged 14-23 years, with chronic degenerative endometrial changes. Nine biopsies where obtained on day 0 (D0) before administration of autologous SC treatment. A total of 8 x 106 cells in a volume of 0.5 ml were injected in each point into 20 different points of approximately 1 cm from each other, following a horizontal line from the tip of one uterine horn to the other. Injections were performed by hysteroscopy with a needle designed for colonoscopic procedures. Sixty days later (D60) a second biopsy was obtained from each mare. Biopsies were fixed in Bouin