Effects of Intramuscular Human Fat Grafting on Muscle Structure and Function Using Nude Mice.
Kim C., Thota B., Lazzarini A., Barillas J., Welch T., Del Vecchio D.
Animal Study with a reported sample of 20, published in Aesthet Surg J (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.
- 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
This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.
- Study type
- Animal Study
- Journal
- Aesthet Surg J (2026)
- Country
- England
- Reported sample size
- 20
- Source database
- PubMed
- PMID
- 42460679
- DOI
- 10.1093/asj/sjag149
Abstract (original English)
Background Intramuscular fat grafting is used for soft tissue augmentation, yet its effects on muscle structure and function remain unclear. Objectives To evaluate structural and functional outcomes of intramuscular fat grafting using human lipoaspirate in a nude mouse model and assess its regenerative potential. Methods Fifty-nine female athymic mice received 100 µL injections of low-density fat (n = 20), high-density fat (n = 20), or saline (n = 19) into hind limb muscles. In vivo grip strength was measured weekly for 6 months. Ex vivo mechanical testing was performed at study endpoint. Histology (H&E, Masson's trichrome) assessed muscle architecture and fibrosis, while immunofluorescence with human-specific markers evaluated graft persistence and cellular contribution. Results No statistically significant differences in muscle strength were observed between groups. Peak in vivo hind limb grip strength ranged from 82-96 grams-force (gf), with saline-treated limbs generally demonstrating higher final values (78 gf) than high-density (61 gf) and low-density fat groups (50 gf). Ex vivo peak force measured 9.0 ± 1.8 N (saline), 8.0 ± 0.4 N (high-density), and 7.8 ± 0.5 N (low-density). At 6 months, most adipocytes were resorbed and replaced by collagen-rich extracellular matrix. Fibrosis was greater in high-density fat grafts (25.49 ± 3.28%) than saline (19.42 ± 4.05%) or low-den
What this study does not prove
- • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
- • This is preclinical work; animal or laboratory results cannot be applied to humans.
Evidence level
Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.
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