Histomorphological Study of Cutaneous Wound Healing in Rabbits Using Xenogenic Adipose Derived Stem Cells

The present study was carried out to evaluate the potential of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (AD-MSCs) to enhance the rate of healing of full-thickness excisional skin wounds in rabbits. Six healthy adult New Zealand white rabbits and five healthy Swiss Albino mice were used for the study. Two, 2 × 2 cm full-thickness skin (thoracolumabar region) excisional wounds were created; one on each side of the dorsal midline in each animal. Adipose tissue was collected from the abdomen of the mice and processed for isolation of AD-MSCs. The wounds were randomly assigned to either injection of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell into the wound margins (AD-MSCs), or topical application of Povidone iodine (5%) solution (PI) as positive control. The wound healing was assessed by evaluation of granulation tissue formation, epithelisation and histomorphological study on 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th postoperative days. Better epithelisation was seen histologically in AD-MSCs treated wounds than in PI-treated wounds. Histomorphological examination of the healing tissue showed early disappearance of inflammatory reaction, significantly more neovascularisation, and more fibroplasias and early lay down and histological maturation of collagen in AD-MSCs treated wounds than in PI treated wounds. Hence the application of xenogenic stem cells can be used for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine in animals