Stem cells regenerative properties on new rat spinal fusion model

Stem cells biology is one of the most frequent topic of physiological research of today. Spinal fusion represents common bone biology challenge. It is the indicator of osteoinduction and new bone formation on ectopic model. The purpose of this study was to establish a simple model of spinal fusion based on a rat model including verification of the possible use of titanium microplates with hydroxyapatite scaffold combined with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae were fixed in 15 Wistar rats. The space between bony vertebral arches and spinous processes was either filled with augmentation material only and covered with a resorbable collagen membrane (Group 1), or filled with augmentation material loaded with 5 × 10⁶ MSCs and covered with a resorbable collagen membrane (Group 2). The rats were sacrificed 8 weeks after the surgery. Histology, histomorphometry and micro-CT were performed. The new model of interspinous fusion was safe, easy, inexpensive, with zero mortality. We did not detect any substantial pathological changes or tumor formation after graft implantation. We observed a nonsignificant effect on the formation of new bone tissue between Group 1 and Group 2. In the group with MSCs (Group 2) we described minor inflamatory response which indicates the imunomodulational and antiinflamatory role of MSCs. In conclusion, this new model proved to be easy to use in small animals like rats.