Effect of platelet-rich plasma on the healing of cutaneous defects exposed to acute to chronic wounds: a clinico-histopathologic study in rabbits

BACKGROUND: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains numerous growth factors to promote wound healing and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to gain further information about the benefits of platelet-rich-plasma for healing cutaneous acute to chronic wounds. METHODS: A total of 30 New Zealand albino rabbits (n = 15/group) were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: control group, and PRP group. Bilateral resection defects measuring 3 cm were surgically created on the dorsolateral of the cutaneous in animals and the defects were randomly divided into two mentioned groups. Wound area, neovascularization, size and epithelialization were compared on days 7, 14 and 21 post-wounding. Histopathological analyses were conducted on 15 specimens from each group after sacrifice by the cellular aspects of the regeneration of the tissue. RESULTS: Our results were indicated that the wound area of PRP was smaller than that in the non-treated group on days 7, 14 and 21. Furthermore, a significant decrease of the wound size was observed in PRP groups that were significantly greater than that in the control group. A significant increase of the mean vascular density was noted in the PRP treated groups compared to the control groups at day 14 and especially day 21. This results indicated that PRP treated group’ enhanced angiogenesis at the wound beds as compared to no treatment group. CONCLUSION: These results could be useful for researchers in the growing fields of tissue repair and experimental wound healing. Further studies will be essential to determine the role of PRP in clinical practice.