Equine Umbilical Cord Research Articles

Isolation of mesenchymal stem cells from equine umbilical cord blood

BackgroundThere are no published studies on stem cells from equine cord blood although commercial storage of equine cord blood for future autologous stem cell transplantations is available. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been isolated from fresh umbilical cord blood of humans collected non-invasively at the time of birth and from sheep cord blood collected invasively by a surgical intrauterine approach. Mesenchymal stem cells isolation percentage from frozen-thawed human cord blood is low and the future isolation percentage of MSCs from cryopreserved equine cord blood is therefore expectedly low. The hypothesis of this study was that equine MSCs could be isolated from fresh whole equine cord blood.ResultsCord blood was collected from 7 foals immediately after foaling. The mononuclear cell fraction was isolated by Ficoll density centrifugation and cultured in a DMEM low glucose based media at 38.5°C in humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO2. In 4 out of 7 samples colonies with MSC morphology were observed. Cellular morphology varied between monolayers of elongated spindle-shaped cells to layered cell clusters of cuboidal cells with shorter cytoplasmic extensions. Positive Alizarin Red and von Kossa staining as well as significant calcium deposition and alkaline phosphatase activity confirmed osteogenesis. Histology and positive Safranin O staining of matrix glycosaminoglycans illustrated chondrogenesis. Oil Red O staining of lipid droplets confirmed adipogenesis.ConclusionWe here report, for the first time, the isolation of mesenchymal-like stem cells from fresh equine cord blood and their differentiation into osteocytes, chondrocytes and adipocytes. This novel isolation of equine cord blood MSCs and their preliminary in vitro differentiation positions the horse as the ideal pre-clinical animal model for proof-of-principle studies of cord blood derived MSCs.

The twisted umbilical cord: An expression of kinesis of the equine fetus?

The umbilical cord of 157 equine conceptuses of various ages were examined for the presence, frequency, location, degree and direction of umbilical twists. The intra-uterine disposition of 57 conceptuses was also controlled. 78% of the cords were twisted and they attained an average of 4.4 twists per umbilical cord. By inclusion of the cords without torsion a general average of 3.5 twists per examined umbilical cord was obtained. This average was already reached at four months gestation and remained unchanged until at term. Twisting had no preferential direction and was not influenced by twin-gestation compared to single pregnancies. Twisting in the amniotic and in the allantoic part occurred independently. In pregnancies of 4 to 7 months, approximately 50% of the fetuses were found in anterior presentation. At about 7 months, the fetus had developed a final rotation resulting in 97% of fetuses in the anterior presentation. Twisting of the equine umbilical cord can be accepted as a generalized physiological phenomenon. A comparison of the theoretical possibilities of the twisting mechanism with the data of the present study, and with developmental and clinical facts indicates that the fetal movements themselves perform the principal role in the twisting process.

A study of equine umbilical cord vessels as a venous substitute

A study of equine umbilical cord vessels as a venous substitute

Evaluation of glutaraldehyde-tanned equine umbilical cord vessels as a substitute for a venous reconstruction

Evaluation of glutaraldehyde-tanned equine umbilical cord vessels as a substitute for a venous reconstruction

臍帯(ヒト・ウマ)由来代用血管に関する研究

臍帯(ヒト・ウマ)由来代用血管に関する研究