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Veterinary research communications2025; 49(2); 118; doi: 10.1007/s11259-025-10692-1

Therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on traumatic facial nerve paralysis in two horses.

Abstract: Cell-based therapy has emerged as a promising strategy for treating peripheral nervous system (PNS) injuries across different species. However, there is a scarcity in the literature regarding the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for treating PNS injuries in horses. This report aims to describe the therapeutic potential of equine MSC transplantation in two horses with chronic traumatic facial nerve paralysis. Both horses presented with lip ptosis and right deviation of the nostril and upper lip, being clinically diagnosed with left facial nerve paralysis. Due to the refractoriness to conventional anti-inflammatory treatments, cell-based therapy was chosen. One horse received an autologous transplant of equine bone marrow-derived MSCs (EqBM-MSCs) four months after the traumatic event, while the other underwent three transplants of allogeneic equine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (EqAT-MSCs) at 30-day intervals, starting two months after the injury. All transplants were performed at three different sites around the facial nerve, at the level of bifurcation of the buccal branch in both horses. Physical and neurological assessments revealed significant clinical recovery within three months for the first horse and four months for the second. These findings demonstrated that equine MSCs transplants have great therapeutic potential for chronic traumatic facial nerve paralysis in horses, highlighting the relevance of MSCs- based therapy for peripheral nerve injuries.
© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
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Publication Date: 2025-02-25 PubMed ID: 39998709PubMed Central: 4055040DOI: 10.1007/s11259-025-10692-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper studies the possible benefits of using stem cell therapy for the treatment of peripheral nervous system injuries in horses. Specifically, it focused on the transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat chronic traumatic facial nerve paralysis in two case-study horses.

Aim of Research and Presenting Problem

  • The study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation in treating peripheral nervous system (PNS) injuries in horses. It specifically looked at two cases of chronic traumatic facial nerve paralysis.
  • Both horses being studied presented with lip ptosis (drooping) and right deviation of the nostril and upper lip – classic symptoms of left facial nerve paralysis. They showed no improvement with conventional anti-inflammatory treatments, indicating the need for a different therapeutic approach.

Transplant Procedure

  • The researchers turned to MSC-based therapy for the two subjects. One horse received an autologous transplant of equine bone marrow-derived MSCs (EqBM-MSCs) naturally produced by the horse’s body. This transplant occurred four months following the traumatic event leading to the facial paralysis.
  • The second horse underwent three transplants of allogeneic equine adipose tissue-derived MSCs (EqAT-MSCs) from a different horse. These transplants were administered at 30-day intervals, starting two months after the injury occurred.
  • For both subjects, the MSC transplants were performed at three different sites around the facial nerve, specifically at the bifurcation of the buccal branch.

Results of the Study

  • Post-transplantation assessments revealed signs of significant clinical recovery in both horses. The horse receiving the autologous EqBM-MSCs showed improvement within three months post-transplant, while the horse receiving the allogeneic EqAT-MSCs demonstrated recovery within four months following the initial transplant.
  • These findings demonstrated that equine MSC transplants may have substantial therapeutic potential for addressing chronic traumatic facial nerve paralysis in horses. More broadly, they underline the relevance of MSC-based therapy as a treatment path for peripheral nerve injuries across different species.

Implications

  • This study serves the dual purpose of offering potential solutions for treating PNS injuries in horses and contributing to the larger research conversation on the transformative possibilities of MSC transplantation in veterinary medicine.

Cite This Article

APA
de Oliveira Ferreira LV, Maia L, de Andrade DGA, da Costa Kamura B, de Carvalho M, Amorim RM. (2025). Therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on traumatic facial nerve paralysis in two horses. Vet Res Commun, 49(2), 118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-025-10692-1

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 2
Pages: 118

Researcher Affiliations

de Oliveira Ferreira, Lucas Vinícius
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Clinic, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
Maia, Leandro
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Clinic, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
de Andrade, Danilo Giorgi Abranches
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Clinic, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
da Costa Kamura, Beatriz
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Clinic, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
de Carvalho, Márcio
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Clinic, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
Amorim, Rogério Martins
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Veterinary Clinic, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. rogerio.amorim@unesp.br.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Facial Nerve Injuries / veterinary
  • Facial Nerve Injuries / therapy
  • Facial Paralysis / veterinary
  • Facial Paralysis / therapy
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Horses / injuries
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / veterinary
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent to publish: Not applicable. Ethics approval: Informed consent was obtained from the owners of the two horses involved in this case for the procedures performed. Additional ethical approval was not required. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Tang X, Ji Z, Xiao X, Zhu T, Lan S, Yen Y, Shao X, Tan S, Wang C, Zhang J. The interaction of regulated forms of cell death in the pathogenesis of severe facial paralysis and potential therapeutic strategies. Front Neurosci 2025;19:1720961.
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