title: Effects of platelet-rich plasma on cartilage regeneration after costal cartilage resection: a stereological and histopathological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In cases of congenital chest wall deformities, it is important to maintain the flexibility of the chest wall after rib cartilage resection. In this study, we aimed to determine the regeneration capability of cartilage and the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the regeneration process.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 16 four-week-old New Zealand rabbits were used in this study. In the 4th-5th right costal cartilages, the perichondrial sheaths were dissected and costal cartilages were excised. Then, the perichondrial sheaths were closed with absorbable material in the sham group (n = 8), and this was done after replacing PRP in the PRP group (n = 8). The left costal cartilages of the animals were used as controls. The volumes of the costal cartilages and their perichondrial sheaths were estimated using Cavalieri's principle. In addition, the mean numerical densities of the chondroblasts and chondrocytes per square millimetre were estimated using unbiased counting frames.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the PRP and sham groups, the volumes of the cartilages and perichondrial sheaths were higher than those of the control group (p < 0.05). The numerical densities of the chondroblasts and chondrocytes increased more in the PRP group than in the sham group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Applying PRP after resection may provide better healing and faster regeneration of cartilage.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Thoracic Surgery , Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysen Taslak
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Sengul
authors.affiliation: a Department of Thoracic Surgery , Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Yasemin Bilgin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Buyukkkarabacak
authors.affiliation: b Department of Histology and Embryology , Ondokuz Mayis University , Turkey.
authors.forename: Berrin Zuhal
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Altunkaynak
authors.affiliation: c Department of Thoracic Surgery , Mustafa Kemal University , Hatay , Turkey.
authors.forename: Tulin Durgun
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Yetim
authors.affiliation: b Department of Histology and Embryology , Ondokuz Mayis University , Turkey.
authors.forename: Gamze Yayla
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.affiliation: d Department of Pulmonary Disease , Samsun Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Hospital , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sengul
authors.affiliation: a Department of Thoracic Surgery , Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basoglu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D066186:Costal Cartilage / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D053657:Platelet-Rich Plasma; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration; D012272:Ribs
keywords: Cavalieri’s principle; Pectus deformities; costal cartilage; platelet-rich plasma; stereology