Stem cells promote the reconstitution of the hematopoietic and other tissues, and are present in the embryo, peripheral blood, bone marrow and umbilical cord blood (UCB). The experimental models of bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells in dogs provide important information for stem cells transplants in humans. However, there are no studies on the UCB cells of dogs in Brazil. This experiment aimed at quantifying nucleated and stem cells in the umbilical cord of dogs having as its purpose the hematological recuperation. In this assay, UCB of 40 neonates dogs was collected for nucleated cell count in automatic cell counter and stem cell CD34+ count in flow cytometer. The method of UCB collection at the juxta-placental portion of the umbilical vessels allowed UCB blood and stem cell CD34+ quantification. The nucleated cell values of UCB were reduced as compared to the reference values of the peripheral blood of healthy neonate and adult dogs. Despite the small volume of UCB (1325µL), the quantity of stem cells in the canine umbilical cord (3.38±2.72 CD34+ x10(6) kg-1) is similar to that reported in the bone marrow and mobilized peripheral blood of adult dogs, coinciding with the amount recommend for hematopoetic reconstitution.
stem cell; CD34; hematopoietic; umbilical cord; cytometry; dogs
