"Several studies have shown that intra-articular mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) injection helps reduce synovial inflammation and results in better cartilage repair from a structural point of view, when compared to other currently available therapies and surgical techniques. In horses, MSC sources include bone marrow, adipose tissue, umbilical cord, umbilical cord blood, amniotic membrane, and peripheral blood. Moreover, researchers have recently shown synovial fluid and membrane to be viable sources of MSCs. The quantity of cells obtained, the capacity for and efficiency of differentiation, the ease of collection, and low risk of complications during collection are important issues to consider when selecting an MSC source. Currently, MSCs derived from bone marrow and adipose tissue are most commonly used in therapeutic approaches."

"It is well-known in the medical field that the pig brain shares certain physiological and anatomical similarities with the human brain. So similar are the two that researchers at the University of Georgia's Regenerative Bioscience Center have developed the first U.S. pig model for stroke treatments, which will provide essential preclinical data and speed the drug discovery process."

“This would advance medicine, especially veterinary medicine, where you can actually get this out of the refrigerator and inject almost any dog that has a problem in different parts of the body,” added Dr. Johnson. “The implications are vast because the stem cells will be able to be used for, not only arthritis, but you could use it for neurological conditions, you could use it for thyroid problems, skin conditions, inflammatory bowel problems…”"

"For a lot of people, pets are members of the family. And it can be heartbreaking to see a beloved dog or cat suffer from injury, or from hip dysplasia, degenerative joints, or arthritis. In years past, pet owners had to rely on medication, surgery or even in some cases, euthanasia to mitigate an animal’s suffering. Now, stem cell therapy is poised to revolutionize the veterinary field even as the hard science behind it has a way to go."

"Patients seeking unproven stem-cell therapies in the United States often run up against government restrictions. But Vintage ‘Vinty’ Mark of Lovettsville, Virginia, had no difficulty getting such injections to treat an injured tendon in his leg. The leg improved dramatically, and Vinty went back to training — to be a racehorse."

"Musculoskeletal disorders and open wounds are common in veterinary medicine. Osteoarthritis afflicts 10 to 12 million dogs in the United States and is the most common cause of chronic pain in dogs.1 Tendon and ligament injuries are common in performance horses and potentially more threatening than a fracture to the horse’s athletic ability. Clinical evidence is growing that autologous adipose-derived stem/stromal cells (AD-SCs) can dramatically improve healing of injuries and decrease degenerative processes."