ABSTRACT
The absence of regulatory and ethical guidance has encouraged rapid translation of unproven stem cell protocols in veterinary medicine. Placenta-derived cells can be considered a relatively new entry within the large field of cell-based regenerative medicine. Placenta-related research, however, rapidly evolved when the organ, essential to support fetal development and to predict genetic diseases of the newborn, started to be considered as a source of stem/progenitor cells. Many rigorous preclinical studies have focused the attention on the in utero placental stem cell transplantation to ameliorate prenatal congenital diseases using sheep as a model. An urgent current need in regenerative veterinary medicine is that of identifying an easily accessible, plentiful, and safe source for the development of therapeutic strategies to restore functionality in damaged or diseased organs and tissues. Tendon injuries are a common cause of disease in both humans and domestic animals.
