Histological Study of the Effect of Platelet Rich Plasma on Experimentally Induced Skeletal Muscles Injury in Adult Male Albino Rats

Abstract

Background: Muscle injuries are common and may be associated with impaired functional capacity, especially among athletes. Ordinary lines of treatment result in improper healing of the damaged tissue with prolonged time for recovery, so it was essential to try new lines of treatment for these injuries to get advantageous effect on the healing process. One of these new treatments is platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which is used to improve healing of many lesions such as skin and sports injury. Aim of the work: This work was carried out to evaluate the role of platelet rich plasma in healing of experimentally induced skeletal muscle injury in adult male albino rat. Materials and methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were divided Into: Group I: donor group to obtain PRP from their peripheral blood and muscle specimens from their gasterocnemius muscle. Group II: was exposed to bilateral gastrocnemius muscles injury and was left without treatment. Group III: Bilateral gastrocnemius muscles were injured and immediately treated locally with PRP intramuscularly. Muscle specimens were excised after 1, 7and 21 days from the onset of injury and were processed for light and electron microscopic examination. Results: PRP treated group demonstrated early formation of many myotubes starting from the 7th day after injury onwards in association with ultrastructural features of activated satellite cells together with restoration of normal histological features of muscle fibers. Conclusion: local injection of PRP into the injured gastrocnemius muscle resulted in early activation, proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells resulting in earlier and enhanced myogenesis.