title: Regeneration of intervertebral discs in a rat disc degeneration model by implanted adipose-tissue-derived stromal cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because adipose-tissue-derived stromal cell (ADSC) is readily accessible and abundant in stem cell, ADSC may be a better candidate for cell therapy and tissue engineering. This study investigated the potential of ADSC implantation to restore disc in a rat IVD model.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first coccygeal disc segments of a Sprague-Dawley rat was left undamaged as a control (NC) group, and other two segments were damaged by needle injection. Two weeks later, ADSCs (TS) group or saline (IN) group was transplanted into each of the two damaged segments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 6 weeks after transplantation, the TS group showed a significantly smaller reduction in disc height than the IN group and exhibited a restoration of MRI signal intensity. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed a greater restoration of the inner annulus structure in the TS group. Anti-Human Nucleic Antibody, collagen type II, and aggrecan, staining showed positive findings at 2 weeks after transplantation in TS group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADSCs show potential for restoring degenerative discs and may prove effective in the treatment of IVD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological surgery, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Je Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Jung Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun Sun
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Joong Kee
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Sang Ryong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Kyoung Hyo
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation