Experimental study of the effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma on the early phases of osteoinduction by allogenic demineralized bone matrix

To evaluate the effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the early phases of osteoinduction by allogenic demineralized bone matrix (DBM) in rabbit intramuscular positions. Allogenic DBM was produced from bones of 3 healthy rabbits. In each of 6 experimental animals, 0.3 mL autologous PRP was prepared and 2 muscle pouches were created, where 250 mg DBM + PRP (experimental sites) and 250 mg DBM without PRP (control sites) were randomly implanted. Animals were euthanized 3 weeks postoperatively. Histologic examination revealed uneventful healing in all cases, whereas remineralization of the periphery of the bone graft particles was a constant finding. In both control and experimental sites, fibroblasts and other mesenchymal cells (probably osteoprogenitor cells and preosteoblasts) were observed. The main histological difference was the recolonization of the empty lacunae of the bone graft particles by osteocytes at the control sites. The degradation of the graft at the control sites was statistically significantly quicker, although a statistically significant difference regarding the amount of the newly formed fibrous connective tissue was not observed. The present study demonstrated that in this experimental model, the addition of PRP to DBM had a negative effect on the early phases of osteoinduction at 3 weeks of observation.