In vitro chondrogenesis of canine and equine mesenchymal stem cells

Repair of the unique and highly specialized structure of articular cartilage presents a significant biological challenge for health professionals and veterinarians. Current methodologies frequently result in short term fix, with inferior mechanical properties to native articular cartilage, an unsatisfactory outcome particularly for younger patients. The work described in this thesis examines in vitro the suitability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for cartilage regenerative therapies from two animals in which cartilage damage can have a debilitating effect, the horse and the dog, with the aim of applying these to further in vivo applications.