Autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells provide complete regeneration in a rabbit model of the Achilles tendon bundle rupture.

Purpose: To ascertain the role of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in the tendon regeneration.

Methods: The study was conducted on 58 Achilles tendons from 29 laboratory Chinchilla adult rabbits. The central bundles of 48 tendons were partially removed and substituted with a tissue-engineered construct consisting of a collagen sponge either loaded with BM-MSCs (n = 24) or cell free (n = 24), placed inside a Vicryl mesh tube.