Angiogenesis in Rat Uterine Cicatrix After Injection of Autologous Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Results of injection of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with transfected GFP gene into the rat uterine horn cicatrix were studied by light microscopy. Large groups of blood vessels with blood cells inside were seen after injection of autologous bone marrow cells into the cicatrix on the right horn, formed 2 months after its ligation; no groups of vessels of this kind were found in the cicatrix in the contralateral horn. Examination of unstained sections in reflected UV light showed sufficiently bright fluorescence in the endothelium and outer vascular membrane in the uterine horn cicatrix only on the side of injection. Hence, autologous mesenchymal stem cells injected into the cicatrix formed the blood vessels due to differentiation into endotheliocytes and pericytes. The expression of GFP gene not only in the vascular endothelium, but also in vascular outer membranes indicated that autologous mesenchymal stem cells differentiated in the endothelial and pericytic directions.