title: Stem cells from the fat tissue of rabbits: an easy-to-find experimental source.
abstract: Stem cells, because of their pluripotentiality and unlimited capacity for self-renewal, project great promise for tissue engineering and are expected to allow significant advances for distinct reconstructive procedures. This study aimed to establish a versatile experimental model with potential application to distinct lines of research in plastic surgery. The search was guided by the need for mesenchymal stem cells that can be easily obtained for laboratory research. The authors studied the anatomy of a number of animals as potential donors and indicated the white New Zealand rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) for this purpose. The animals of this species present definite areas of lipid tissue on their back, allowing easy access to the tissue by either exeresis or liposuction.
authors.affiliation: Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. fabricioctorres@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Fabrício Carvalho
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Consuelo Junqueira
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Ithamar Nogueira
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Stocchero
authors.forename: Marcus Castro
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D011817:Rabbits; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods