Application of adipose tissue-derived stem cells in a rat rotator cuff repair model.

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Introduction Healing tissue of the rotator cuff does not regenerate the native enthesis; fibrovascular scar tissue is formed instead and this has less favourable biomechanical properties. The purpose of this study was to determine if the application of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) could improve biomechanical and histological properties of the repair. Material and methods Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats underwent detachment and repair of the supraspinatus tendon, 32 for the biomechanical study and 18 for the histological examination. Animals were randomised in two groups to receive either a collagen carrier alone (untreated group) or the carrier plus 2×10(6) ASCs (ASCs group). A control group (suture only) was also included for the histological examination. The animals were sacrificed at 2 and 4 weeks for the biomechanical study and at 24 hours, and 1 and 4 weeks for the histological study. Maximum load failure energy, elastic energy, mechanical deformation, stiffness and absorbed energy were measured. Immunofluorescence testing was conducted to show the presence of ASCs in the repair area. Results There were no differences between the untreated group and the ASCs group in any of the biomechanical variables at the 2- and 4-week time points. The mechanical deformation before failure was higher for the ASCs group compared with the untreated group at 2 weeks and 4 weeks (p=0.

Evidence level

Several human studies show positive signals, while research methods and sample sizes continue to develop.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.