Local electrical stimulation with mesenchymal stem cells improves anatomy and functional recovery long after anal sphincter injury in a rat model.

Hypothesis / aims of study We have previously optimized electrical stimulation (ES) parameters for up-regulation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) homing cytokines in the anal sphincter in a rat model. Our hypothesis is that low grade ES acts as a conditioning injury which upregulates homing cytokines that attract and retain MSC at the the area of previous injury thereby stimulating regeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate if local ES with allogeneic MSC delivery has an effect on anal sphincter anatomy and physiology long after anal sphincter injury in a rat model.