Stem cells are primitive cells that are present in every tissue. They are self renewing and can develop into any other type of tissue necessary. At Sunset Point Animal Hospital, we can use them for repair and regeneration of injured body tissue. We do not need embryonic cells for stem cell production. In fact embryonic stem cells prefer to make whole bodies and not select for only cell types needed...we like the more selective kind.
Adipose (fat) tissue is used for stem cell collection because it has a high cell count, is easy to access, will continue to renew itself, has a low risk of rejection and provides a rapid turnaround in the laboratory (ie. no need to culture cells for preparation). These adult stem cells provide 5 distinct mechanisms of repair:
- Reduces inflammation
- Attracts repair cells to injured areas
- Causes re-growth in injured areas
- Transforms into any type of tissue to meet the needs of the cells in the damaged area
- Stimulates the immune system to improve healing
We have had wonderful success with stem cell therapy in painful, arthritic, or post trauma dogs and cats so far. These pets are living active, pain free, and often times medication free lives. Other potential uses in Veterinary Medicine are ligament and tendon damage, liver disease, kidney disease, wound healing, Inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune skin disorders, heart disease, other ischemic disorders, and spinal diseases.
SUNSET POINT ANIMAL HOSPITAL
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