Clinical and therapeutic application of stem cells in domestic animals

The generation of stem cells was initiated in mouse but gained importance because of clinical importance in humans. However, their establishment is gradually increasing every day in domestic animals like pig, sheep, goat, dog, cat, horse, cow or buffalo for purposes such as the creation of models of human genetic diseases and cell transplantation therapies. The stem cells derived from farm animals may be useful for the generation of transgenic animals as they usually have a self-renewal capacity more prolonged than normal primary cultures, thus increasing the possibility to transform and select cells to be used as nucleus donors in cloning procedures. Stem cells represent a dynamic system suitable for identification of new molecular targets and the development of novel drugs, which can be tested in vitro for safety or to predict or anticipate potential toxicity in humans. Beside this, the stem cell technology is also associated with development of treatments of wide range of injuries and diseases such as myocardial infarction, stroke, tendon and ligament damage, osteoarthritis, osteochondrosis and muscular dystrophy both in large animals and humans. However, certain hurdles will need to be cleared if these cells are to fulfil their clinical promise, and suggest avenues that might facilitate these important endeavours.