Stem cells possess a remarkable potential to grow and differentiate into different types of cells in the body. They act as repair cells in some of the tissues by dividing continuously until the death of living organism. The new cell formed as a result of division can either regenerate into stem cells or other type of cell having some specialized function such as red blood cells, muscle cells or any other. Recently, two vets Gil Sinclair of New Zealand and Dr Sandy Cooper from veterinary Centre successfully performed stem cell therapy in the cats very first time in the medical history. The treatment will be offered for dogs, cats and horses suffered from arthritis, first time in Southland.
The golden Labrador star, a dog breed and cat Tuku have became the first two recipients of this treatment. Both of them were suffering from the unbearable arthritis. The cells were grown onsite in the laboratory conditions. In the stem cell treatments, the cells were used for the repairing of the damaged tissue and promote healing in these tissues. Due to this these cells were effective to cure inflammation in the joints. To begin with the procedure first of all fat was extracted from the adult stem cells of the animals. These cells were segregated from other parts and then mixed into the activators. The activators were actually taken from the platelets cells of the animals. They boosted the healing of the damaged part.
What the two vets were trying was to ultimately boost the healing performance. The results obtained after the research were tremendous and unexpected. They showed improvements in about eight percent patients that was a major success. According to Dr Cooper it was great to offer therapy under the lab conditions. There are also other benefits associated with the research. Owners need not to take their pets to the special centers now. It is also safe to offer stem cell treatment rather than usage of drugs as they have many harmful effects.
The vets are hoping that the therapy is going to show great improvements on both of the pets Tuku cat and golden Labrador Star. Previously the stem cell research was surrounded by a controversy because of the use of embryonic stem cells. As these cells damage the embryo after their harvesting it has raised many conflicts all around the world. This recent research used adult stem cells that were taken from the body of patients. There have already been given approval for the usage of adult stem cells to cure spinal injuries. Thus, vets are considering it a major achievement because uses of adult stem cells are non-controversial and now have proved their effectiveness in the animals also.
A most amazing fact about these cells is that they can be collected from the age of 12 years up to 47. The study revealed that menstrual stem cells were able to generate into different cells types such as blood vessel, brain, liver, lung, heart and pancreas. Today there have been started many programs to motivate women to store menstrual blood and donate it. Many of them provide monetary benefits. Others provide treatment to woman in case of severe disease through extraction of stem cells from the menstrual blood of the same women. Thus, today’s woman must come forward and give their vital contribution.
