Platelet-rich plasma reduces the oxidative damage determined by a skeletal muscle contusion in rats

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has received increasing attention and is widely used in clinical practice in order to stimulate human tissue healing. Contusions are very common injuries observed in sports and affect the function of the musculoskeletal system. This study investigated the effects of PRP on the oxidative damage determined by a contusion induced in gastrocnemius muscle of rats. PRP was injected intramuscularly immediately after injury and every 48 h, and the biochemical analysis was performed 1, 3, 5, or 7 days after the contusion onset in order to evaluate the changes characteristics of the healing process. The contusion increased the levels of oxidative stress markers such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and oxidized dichlorofluorescein both in skeletal muscle tissue and erythrocytes preparations, and PRP treatment significantly reduced these oxidative damage markers. Furthermore, the contusion decreased the cellular viability in the site of the lesion and PRP was effective in diminishing this effect. Moreover, PRP increased the levels of enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the injured muscle, and also the non-protein thiols (-SH) group levels in erythrocytes. In conclusion PRP, in the form that was used in this study, was able to modulate the oxidative damage determined by a classical skeletal muscle injury possibly by reducing the impairment of myocytes mitochondrial function and improving their endogenous antioxidant defense systems.