Skeletal muscle tissue is characterized by ability to regenerate in response to injury resulting for example from mechanical trauma, toxin or disease. The key role in this process is played by satellite cells localized in skeletal muscle. However, both under physiological and experimental conditions different types of stem cells originating either from skeletal muscle or other tissues can be also involved in regeneration. This raises the hope for potential use of stem cells in the therapy for skeletal muscles diseases, such as muscular dystrophies or spinal muscle atrophy.

Cord blood is alternative source of the haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in relation to bone marrow and peripheral blood. Advantage of the cord blood (CB) is its relative accessibility as a source of HSC. HSC of CB present bigger proliferative potential than HSC of bone marrow and peripheral blood. Moreover they evoke weaker GvH reaction. The disadvantage of CB is its small amount obtain- able once for all. It can be applied to allogenic transplantation only, although, the banking of CB is becoming popular as a source of HSC for future autologous transplantation.