title: Immunohistochemical study of angiogenesis after local administration of platelet-rich plasma in a patellar tendon defect.
abstract: A full thickness defect was made in the central portion of the patellar tendon of 48 New Zealand white rabbits. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) gel was then applied and filled the tendon defect. The same procedure was performed in the control group, without the application of PRP. Animals were sacrificed after one, two, three, and four weeks. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses using a monoclonal antibody against CD31 were performed. The histological examination showed a superior healing process in the PRP group compared with the control group. Especially in the third week, the tissue formed in the PRP group was more mature and dense with less elastic fibres remaining. Neovascularisation was significantly higher in the PRP group during the first two weeks and significantly lower in the third and fourth weeks (p < 0.0001). Histological examination and study of angiogenesis showed that the application of PRP enhances and accelerates the tendon healing process.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Clinic, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. dimitrislyras@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lyras
authors.forename: Kostas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kazakos
authors.forename: Dionysios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verettas
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polychronidis
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simopoulos
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Botaitis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Agrogiannis
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kokka
authors.forename: Efstratios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Patsouris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*