Platelet-rich plasma for the repair of damaged articular cartilage in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) containing high levels of platelet-derived growth factor for knee osteoarthritis has achieved good clinical results;however, the effects of RPR on the repair of damaged articular cartilage are stil controversial. OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of RPR on the repair of damaged articular cartilage in a rabbit model of knee osteoarthritis. METHODS:The model of osteoarthritis in the rabbit right knee was established by Hulth’s method. Autologous PRP (0.5 mL) (PRP group), sodium hyaluronate (0.5 mL) (sodium hyaluronate group), and normal saline (model group) were injected into the right knee joint cavity, respectively. The morphology of articular surface and nitric oxide contents in knee joint fluid were observed and determined at 8 weeks after surgery. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The morphology of articular cartilage in the PRP group was better than that in the other three groups. Mankin scores of articular cartilage and nitric oxide contents of knee joint fluid in the PRP group were significantly decreased compared with the model and sodium hyaluronate groups that in (P<0.05), while increased compared with the sham-operation group (P<0.05). Our results suggest that repair effects of PRP on the damaged articular cartilage are superior to sodium hyaluronate treatment.