Platelet-rich plasma activation: are there differential effects in reproductive medicine?

Abstract

The aim of this in vitro short report was to determine whether activation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) results in differential effects on growth factor release and cell proliferation in reproductive medicine. This study involved PRP from five donors, activated with either CaCl2 (exogenous activation) or type I collagen (mimicking endogenous activation). The release of growth factors (EGF and PDGF-AB) and the proliferative response of human ovarian fibroblasts were analysed. PRP activated with CaCl2 formed stable clots and released statistically significant higher levels of EGF (871 ± 426 pg/mL) and PDGF-AB (26535 ± 6477 pg/mL) compared to collagen-activated PRP (EGF: 141 ± 66 pg/mL, PDGF-AB: 13060 ± 2301 pg/mL). Additionally, CaCl2-activated PRP induced greater proliferation in ovarian fibroblasts (34.90 ± 17.82 ng/mL DNA) than collagen-activated PRP (30.75 ± 18.21 ng/mL DNA). In conclusion, the activation of PRP with CaCl2 results in higher growth factor release and a stronger biological response compared to type I collagen-activation. These findings underscore the importance of standardized PRP activation protocols to enhance clinical outcomes in reproductive medicine.