| dc.description.abstract | In human and veterinary medicine, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have significant therapeutic benefits. MSCs can differentiate into a variety of cells including osteoblasts, chondrocytes, or adipocytes. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is commonly used as a media supplement to support the proliferation of MSCs in vitro. Although FBS provides growth factors, hormones, and other valuable benefits to the cells, the ingredients are undefined, it varies between batches, and contains xenogens that could induce immune reactions. One alternative to FBS used in humans is platelet releasate (PR), which contains platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) that can be isolated from autologous or allogeneic blood. It was hypothesized that equine MSCs grown in autologous 10% PR will have the same or superior proliferation as those grown in 10% FBS. MSCs were obtained from raw equine bone marrow, expanded in media containing either autologous 10% PR or 10% FBS, and after reaching the appropriate confluence at passage three (P3) were cryopreserved. During the MSCs expansion in both medias, the number of colony forming units (CFUs), cell counts, growth rate, and confluence were documented. The FBS condition on average yielded higher numbers of colonies on the CFU plates as well as higher cell counts. The confluence over time and population doubling time showed that MSCs grown in 10% FBS proliferated more rapidly than in 10% PR. The MSCs grown in autologous 10% PR started senescing at passage two (P2) as shown with a gradual decline in proliferation. After performing a quantitative analysis, it can be concluded that MSCs grown in autologous 10% PR did not proliferate equal or superior to MSCs grown in 10% FBS. Further research needs to be conducted to conclude that PR is not a good alternative for FBS. | |
