In vitro fabrication of autologous living tissue-engineered vascular grafts based on prenatally harvested ovine amniotic fluid-derived stem cells.

Amniotic fluid cells (AFCs) have been proposed as a valuable source for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, before clinical implementation, rigorous evaluation of this cell source in clinically relevant animal models accepted by regulatory authorities is indispensable. Today, the ovine model represents one of the most accepted preclinical animal models, in particular for cardiovascular applications.

[Polychondritis: a new disease in Swiss Braunvieh?].

Over the last 10 years Swiss Braunvieh cattle with malformations of the pinnae have repeatedly been reported. Endoscopy revealed a shortened and thickened epiglottis and malformations of the arytenoid cartilage in some of these animals. In most cases the elastic cartilage was replaced by fibrocartilage and hyaline cartilage.

Clinical and molecular characterization of a re-established line of sheep exhibiting hemophilia A.

Background: Large animal models that accurately mimic human hemophilia A (HA) are in great demand for developing and testing novel therapies to treat HA.

Objectives: To re-establish a line of sheep exhibiting a spontaneous bleeding disorder closely mimicking severe human HA, fully characterize their clinical presentation, and define the molecular basis for disease.

Patients/methods: Sequential reproductive manipulations were performed with cryopreserved semen from a deceased affected ram.

Arachnomelia in Brown Swiss cattle maps to chromosome 5.

Arachnomelia in Brown Swiss cattle is a monogenic autosomal recessive inherited congenital disorder of the skeletal system giving affected calves a spidery look (OMIA ID 000059). Over a period of 20 years 15 cases were sampled in the Swiss and Italian Brown cattle population. Pedigree data revealed that all affected individuals trace back to a single acknowledged carrier founder sire.