Protective Role of Platelet Rich Plasma in Cardiovascular Dysfunction and Autonomic Dysreflexia Induced by Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of physiology, faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Department of physiology, Faculty of medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) have a high risk of cardiovascular complications. This work aims to provide an overview of the impact of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment on SCI and its cardiovascular hazardous sequelae.
Methods: 26 adult female Wister rats were randomly allocated into three groups; sham-operated control group, (SCI group) underwent compression injury of SC at T4 level, and a SCI group treated with PRP (SCI-PRP). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate HR, as well as core temperature, were recorded under basal conditions and in response to colorectal distension (CRD).
Results: Under basal condition, hypotension and hypothermia were observed during the initial 4 weeks post-injury while tachycardia was prominent all through the study starting from the 2nd week onwards in the SCI rats compared to sham controls. Meanwhile the response to CRD revealed marked elevation in the MAP, bradycardia associated with ventricular/supraventricular ectopic rhythm as well as hyperthermia in the SCI group which may be accounted for by autonomic dysreflexia (AD). PRP treatment ameliorated partially the cardiovascular complications under basal conditions and in response to CRD as well. Histopathological and EM examination revealed that SCI-PRP group had more myelinated regenerating axons of SC than the injured group but fewer than the sham group.
Conclusion: Application of PRP immediately to the site of SCI facilitated its partial regeneration, had a potential repairing effect, and prevented, at least partially, cardiovascular complications.

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