title: The effect of platelet rich fibrin on growth factor levels in urethral repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Platelet rich fibrin (PRF) is an autologous source of growth factors and promotes wound healing. An experimental study was performed to evaluate the effect of PRF on growth factor levels in urethral repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen Wistar albino rats were included in the study. Rats were allocated in three groups (n:6): control (CG), sham (SG), and PRF (PRFG). In SG, a 5 mm vertical incision was performed in the penile urethra and repaired with 10/0 Vicryl® under a microscope. In PRFG, during the urethral repair as described in SG, 1 cc of blood was sampled from each rat and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 2400 rpm. PRF obtained from the centrifugation was placed on the repair site during closure. Penile urethras were sampled 24 hours after PRF application in PRFG and after urethral repair in SG. Transforming growth factor beta receptor (TGF-β-R-CD105), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGF-R), as well as endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), were evaluated in subepithelia of the penile skin and urethra. Groups were compared for growth factor levels and growth factor receptor expression with the Kruskal Wallis test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TGF-β-R levels were significantly decreased in SG when compared to CG (p<0.05). In PRFG, TGF-β-R was increased in both subepithelia of penile skin and urethra with respect to SG (p<0.05). When VEGF levels and its receptor expression were compared between SG and PRFG, VEGF levels were found to be increased in penile skin subepithelium, whereas VEGF-R expressions were decreased in urethral subepithelia in PRFG (p<0.05). There was no difference between groups for EGFR levels (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of PRF after urethral repair increases TGF-β-R and VEGF expressions in urethral tissue. PRF can be considered as an alternative measure to improve the success of urethral repair.
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hacettepe University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: soyer.tutku@gmail.com.
authors: Tutku
authors: T
authors: Soyer
authors: Şebnem
authors: Ş
authors: Ayva
authors: Özlem
authors: Ö
authors: Boybeyi
authors: Mustafa Kemal
authors: MK
authors: Aslan
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Çakmak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001792:Blood Platelets; D005337:Fibrin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014521:Urethra / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D005337:Fibrin; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
keywords: Growth factors; Platelet rich fibrin; Urethracutaneous fistula