Platelet-rich plasma in animal reproductive medicine: Prospective and applications

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is the fraction of the plasma enriched with a platelet level above baseline, and it plays an essential role in tissue regeneration. The attention to PRP as unconventional therapy has increased during the past two decades. In animals, applications of PRP showed various degrees of success in a wide range of medical applications, from musculoskeletal injuries to ovarian insufficiency. Therapeutic applications with PRP in farm animals are still scarce, but the promising results offered by several studies are expected to trigger more interest in its application by both veterinarians and farmers. In this review, we highlight some efforts made in the field of animal reproduction regarding the use of PRP to potentiate the ovarian hypofunction, treat endometritis, improve the follicular development, oocyte competence and uterine environment for embryo implantation as well as restore testicular and erectile function in male, and as a treatment for mastitis.