title: Mesenchymal stem cells and nanofibers as scaffolds for the regeneration of thyroid cartilage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study has been to establish an alternative approach in the form of regeneration of the thyroid cartilage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four 1-month old pigs (Sus scrofa) were used (divided into 3 groups) and submitted to general anesthetic to perform cervictomy with exposure of the thyroid cartilage in a total of 12 (twelve) samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  A resection of 4.0 cm(2) of cartilage was carried out in the right upper region and in the left upper and lower left region of the cartilage, where a scaffold with or without stem cells was implanted. In the left lower region, no biomaterial was implanted and the defect was left open (lesion control [L]).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average extension of the cartilaginous neoformation of L group was 136.3 μm (± 9.6) and 387.7 μm (± 43.2) in the scaffold (SCA) group, presenting a significant statistical difference (P < 0.01). The analysis carried out on the lesion site sections of the cartilage of the larynx of the animals from the SCA group + mesenchymal stem cells (SCA+MSC) showed an average of the extension of neocartilage of 825.4 μm (± 122.1), showing a more extensive area of neocartilage when compared to the other groups. These results demonstrated a high significantly statistical difference (P < 0.001) when compared with the L and SCA groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In 100% of the cases for which SCA+MSCs were used, a significant success in the cartilage growth and closing of the lesion in the thyroid cartilage was obtained compared to the other two groups for which MSCs were not used.
  
  
  METHODS
  N/A.
authors: Department of Morphological Sciences, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Geraldo P
authors: GP
authors: Jotz
authors: Paula R
authors: PR
authors: da Luz Soster
authors: Seno O
authors: SO
authors: Kunrath
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Steffens
authors: Daikelly I
authors: DI
authors: Braghirolli
authors: Claudio Galleano
authors: CG
authors: Zettler
authors: Carlos A
authors: CA
authors: Beck
authors: Marcelo
authors: M
authors: Muccillo
authors: Rui F F
authors: RF
authors: Lopes
authors: Bernardo
authors: B
authors: Mastella
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Pranke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D057139:Nanofibers; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
keywords: Stem cells; regeneration; scaffolds; thyroid cartilage