title: A Rat Treated with Mesenchymal Stem Cells Lives to 44 Months of Age.
abstract: There is a growing interest in the potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for implementing regenerative medicine. We assessed the effect of intravenous administration of human bone marrow-derived MSC on the life span of a single Sprague-Dawley female rat. The treatment was started when the rat was 6 months old and the cells were administered every 2 weeks afterward. The treatment did not induce any obvious changes in body growth or behavior and the rat showed the typical age changes for this strain, except that, unlike intact counterparts, the animal did not develop mammary tumors or pituitary gland hyperplasia. The more remarkable effect of the treatment was on life span, which was 44 months compared with an average of 36 months for intact laboratory rats. We conclude that despite the low N value, it is likely that the MSC treatment was responsible for the exceptionally long survival of the rat. The potential rewards of confirming the present findings warrant further studies involving higher N values.
authors.affiliation: 1 Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapies Laboratory, CUCAIBA, Buenos Aires Province Ministry of Public Health , La Plata, Argentina .
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mansilla
authors.affiliation: 1 Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapies Laboratory, CUCAIBA, Buenos Aires Province Ministry of Public Health , La Plata, Argentina .
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roque
authors.affiliation: 2 Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP), Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata , La Plata, Argentina .
authors.forename: Yolanda E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.affiliation: 1 Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapies Laboratory, CUCAIBA, Buenos Aires Province Ministry of Public Health , La Plata, Argentina .
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tarditti
authors.affiliation: 2 Institute for Biochemical Research (INIBIOLP), Histology B & Pathology B, School of Medicine, National University of La Plata , La Plata, Argentina .
authors.forename: Rodolfo G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Goya
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000473:pathology; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley