Allogenic Myocytes and Mesenchymal Stem Cells Partially Improve Fatty Rotator Cuff Degeneration in a Rat Model.

Purpose: Rotator cuff (RC) tears result not only in functional impairment but also in RC muscle atrophy, muscle fattening and eventually to muscle fibrosis. We hypothesized that allogenic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and myocytes can be utilized to improve the rotator cuff muscle fattening and increase the atrophied muscle mass in a rat model.

Methods: The right supraspinatus (SSP) tendons of 105 inbred rats were detached and muscle fattening was provoked over 4 weeks; the left side remained untouched (control group).