L-PRP diminishes bone matrix formation around autogenous bone grafts associated with changes in osteocalcin and...

Leucocyte- and platelet-rich plasma (L-PRP) is an autogenous platelet concentrate enriched with leukocytes that releases various growth factors responsible for the proliferation, regulation, and differentiation of mesenchymal cells during wound healing. Since the bone and medullary tissue are contiguous and share the same origin, this study evaluated the effect of L-PRP on the repair of calvaria bone using histomorphometric analysis of the newly formed bone, and compared the results in the presence of osteocalcin (OC) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) detected by immunohistochemistry. Artificial circular bone defects (5mm diameter) were produced in the calvaria of 42 rats. The defects were treated with autograft, autograft combined with L-PRP, or without grafting material (sham). The animals were euthanized at 15 or 40 days postsurgery (n=7 in each group). Data obtained were analyzed by Student-Newman-Keuls test for histomorphometric and immunohistochemical interpretation. The development of bone matrix was significantly less in the defects treated with L-PRP, while the medullary area composed of fatty cells was larger. This coincided with the minor expression of OC and expressive presence of PPAR-γ. These results suggest that L-PRP may impair osteoneogenesis and alter the ratio of differentiation between bone matrix and fatty cells, increasing the medullary tissue.