Evaluation of the Effects of Platelet-rich Plasma on Histological Changes Following Experimental Spinal Cord Injury in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating central nervous system disorder that disrupts the structural integrity of the spinal cord causing motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunction leading to permanent paralysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on histological changes following SCI in rats. A total of 25 female Wistar rats were assigned into 5 groups, with 5 rats in each group; Sham, SCI without treatment, SCI with 5 µL PRP, SCI with 10 µL PRP, and SCI with 15 µL PRP. The Sham group underwent laminectomy at the T9-T10 level only. All rats in the SCI groups underwent laminectomy followed by one minute compression of the spinal cord with an aneurysm clip to establish spinal cord injury. Appropriate volumes (5 µL, 10 μL and 15 µL) of activated PRP were injected intrathecally 24 hours post injury through a very tiny longitudinal incision between L4-L5 per rat in the different SCI + PRP groups. The rats were sacrificed on the 28th day and spinal cord tissue harvested, fixed and histologically processed. Sections stained by H&E and Cresyl fast violet techniques revealed normal histological appearance in the sham group, severe changes in the SCI only group, and the SCI + PRP groups showed different degrees of histopathological changes. In conclusion, administration of activated PRP post injury has shown neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects on histological changes following SCI in Wistar rats in a dose dependant manner.