Background
Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in skeletal muscles is a pathophysiology that affects quality of life. The role of growth factors in the healing process encouraged the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP).
Aim
This work aimed to evaluate the effect of PRP and colchicine in experimentally induced muscle IRI in rats.
Materials and methods
A total of 90 adult male rats were used in this study. Ten rats were used for blood collection to prepare PRP, and 80 rats were divided into four equal groups: group 1: control, group 2: gastrocnemius muscles of their right limbs were subjected to IRI and were left without treatment; group 3: gastrocnemius muscles were subjected to IRI as group 2 and immediately treated by intramuscular PRP; and group 4: colchicine was injected intraperitoneally immediately before IRI. Muscle specimens were taken from the control group and after 2 h and 7 days in the experimental groups for histological and immunohistochemical staining to detect antimyogenin and anti-CD34. The data were analyzed statistically.
Results
In the current study, group 2 showed disturbed normal histological architecture of skeletal muscles. PRP-treated group revealed early formation of many myotubes on the seventh day after injury and reduction of fibrosis. It showed significant increase in the number of centrally nucleated fibers, satellite cells, and new blood vessel formation. The colchicine group exhibited reduced muscle damage when compared with the IRI group.
Conclusions
PRP enhances tissue healing via myogenesis, neovascularization, and reduction of fibrosis. Colchicine attenuates IRI via its anti-inflammatory effects.