Effect of co-culturing canine notochordal, nucleus pulposus and mesenchymal stromal cells for intervertebral disc regeneration

Early degenerative changes in the nucleus pulposus (NP) are observed after the disappearance of notochordal cells (NCs). Thus, it has been suggested that NCs play an important role in maintaining the NP and may have a regenerative potential on other cells of the NP. As the number of resident NP cells (NPCs) decreases in a degenerating disc, mesenchymal stromal (stem) cells (MSCs) may be used for cell supplementation. In this study, using cells of one species, the regenerative potential of canine NCs was assessed in long-term 3D co-culture with canine NPCs or MSCs. Canine NCs and canine NPCs or... Mehr ...