Activated Platelet-Rich Plasma Improves Locomotor Functional Recovery and Attenuates Glial Scars Formation in Spinal Cord Injury Rats

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe traumatic disorder of the nervous system, often leading to neuronal death, axonal disruption, glial scar formation, and dysregulated inflammatory responses, ultimately resulting in irreversible sensory and motor dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of activated platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on locomotor functional recovery and glial scars formation following SCI in rats. A total of 25 female Wistar rats were assigned into 5 groups, with 5 rats per 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 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 tiny longitudinal incision between L4-L5 per rat in the different SCI + PRP groups. The BBB locomotor scores for the different experimental groups were recorded on days; 2, 7, 14, 21 and 28. The rats were then sacrificed on the 28th day and spinal cord tissue harvested, fixed and processed histologically. Sections were stained by Masson trichrome staining method. The results demonstrated that PRP treatment significantly improves locomotor functional recovery and reduces glial scars formation after SCI in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, PRP showed neuroregenerative and neuroprotective effects following SCI in rats.