Abstract

PEREZ-SERRANO, Rosa M. et al. Mesenchymal stem cells: biology, characterization and future applications to animal health and production of domestic species and livestock. Part II. Agrociencia [online]. 2012, vol.46, n.6, pp.543-555. ISSN 2521-9766.

Mesenchymal stem cells are highly proliferative and have the potential to differentiate into several cell lineages. These qualities make them an ideal biological model in the study and development of biotechnological tools for use in veterinary medicine and animal production. This paper reviews the information available on mesenchymal stem cells in domestic species and their possible uses, present and future, for veterinary medicine and animal production: engineering and tissue regeneration, treatment of chronic diseases, generation of animals with better production characteristics, assisted reproduction of genetically superior animals or of endangered species and better understanding of the processes of tissue development and metabolism of domestic species.

Keywords : mesenchymal stem cells; bone marrow; cell differentiation; multipotency; animal production; cell therapy.