Effect of platelet-rich plasma on the skin and follicle development of neonatal mice

Abstract

Objective To observe the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the skin tissue and follicle development of neonatal mice. Methods Forty neonatal C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into PRP experimental group and normal saline control group, 20 mice in each group. In the middle of the back, single-point intradermal injection of 0.05 ml PRP with blood platelet counts of 109/ml was carried out in the experimental group, and equivalent injection of normal saline was carried out in the control group. The general observation was done on 5 animals each at the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th day, and the full thickness skin tissue was cut for paraffin embedding and conventional hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Masson staining. The histological changes of the tissue sections were observed and photoed. Image J software was used to measure the gray level of skin, and ipp software to measure the thickness of the dermis and the epidermis. Results At the 3rd day, 5th day, and 7th day, the gray values (9 723.30±874.87, 13 371.25±1 511.42, 16 794.70±1 899.03, mean P=0.000) of the skin development color of the mice in PRP group were generally observed. The phenomenon of the changes in the experimental group occurred earlier than that in the control group. The statistical results of the grey values of the skin color were in accordance with the general observation. Simultaneously, at the 10th day, the general observation revealed that the hair density value of the mice in PRP group was significantly higher than that of the mice in the control group. The HE staining results showed that at the 3rd day, 5th day, 7th day, and 10th day, the values of skin tissue epidermal thickness (0.435±0.011, 0.460±0.009, 0.497±0.008, 0.052±0.014; P=0.005, 0.000, 0.000, 0.016) of the mice in the experimental group were all higher than those of the mice in the control group. At the 3rd day, 5th day, 7th day, and 10th day, the values of the skin tissue dermis thickness (0.744±0.011, 1.168±0.016, 1.820±0.011, 1.717±0.012; P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.034) of the mice in the experimental group were all remarkably higher than those of the mice in the control group during the development of the same number of days. At the 3rd day, 5th day, 7th day, and 10th day, the number of hair follicles (18.33±1.77, 25.33±1.02, 34.33±1.58, 39.33±1.23; P=0.000, 0.000, 0.005, 0.007) of the mice in the experimental group obviously increased as compared with that of the mice in the control group. Furthermore, the hair follicles in the skin tissue of the mice in the experimental group during the development of the same number of days had a better development than that of the mice in the control group. The Masson staining results demonstrated that during the early development of the skin tissue, the new collage secretion volume of the mice in the experimental group was significantly greater than that of the mice in the control group, and the trend of their collagen arrangement to the align of the collagen in mature skin tissue showed earlier in the experimental group than that of the mice in the control group. Conclusion PRP is beneficial for the development and mature of the skin and hair follicles. Key words: Platelet rich plasma; Dermis; Epidermis; Hair follicle; Development; Neonatal mice