Untersuchung und Archivierung von Stammzellen aus Wildtieren; hier: Schneeleopard (Uncia uncia) und Rothschildgiraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)

Adult stem cells are characterized by the ability to maintain their population through cell division and concomitantly generate specialized somatic cell types through differentiation. Stem cells generated from the adult pancreas proliferate rapidly in vitro and are able to develop into cell types of all three germ layers Kruse et al. (2004). Therefore, these cells are suitable for the application in basic research and applied science. In vitro, cells enable the analysis of various scientific subjects under standardized conditions. For instance, they can be applied to establish species specific test systems and diagnosic tools for the assessment of compounds, like pharmaceuticals and xenobiotics, or pathogens. Also, they can be used to investigate how the aforementioned factors act on the cellular level. The detection of specific proteins provides information about the differentiation potential of stem cells and the vitality of the cells. Alterations of these parameters are applicable for the evaluation and analysis of the effect of exogenic factors on cells and the organism. In cooperation with Hagenbecks Tierpark in Hamburg and the zoological gardens in Rostock and Neunkirchen, the Fraunhofer institution for marine biotechnology (EMB) has initiated the establishment of an archive for proliferative cells from wildlife animals. The tissue specimens for the isolation of the cells originate from deceased animals or placental tissue. The archive is continuously growing. Cells from various wildlife animals are added regularly and are permanently stored and cryoconserved. In this study, we report the cultivation and molecular characterisation of adult proliferative cells from a snow leopard (Uncia uncia). The characterization was performed detecting cell type specific and metabolism related proteins by means of immuncytochemistry.