Abstract
Background: Developing manual platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
methods in donkeys improves cost-efficient field management in a species
often treated under resource limitations. Objectives: To
compare asinine PRP manually produced by single and double
centrifugation. Study design: Ex vivo experimental
study. Methods: Whole blood (WB) from 6 healthy donkeys was
collected into sodium citrate vacutainer tubes for single
centrifugation processing and an acid-citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine
blood bag for double centrifugtation processing to produce,
respectively, PRP1 and PRP2. Concentrations of platelets ([PLT]),
leukocyte ([WBC]), and erythrocytes ([RBC]), and activities of
platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and transforming growth
factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) were assessed in WB, PRP1, PRP2. Results were
compared by Friedman’s and Dunn’s multiple comparison test. Spearman’s
rank was used to assess the correlation between [PLT] in WB, PRP1,
and PRP2. Results: Both centrifugation protocols concentrated
platelets 1.8–5.2-fold, reduced WBC 1.1–50.4-fold, and decreased RBC
at least 829-fold compared to WB. PRP2 yielded a higher [PLT] and
platelet enrichment factor than PRP1. However, PRP 1 possessed lower
[WBC] and greater WBC reduction factor than PRP2. PDGF-BB and TGF-β1
activities were higher in PRP2 than PRP1 and WB. Growth factor
activities were not significantly different between PRP1 and WB. There
was weak and moderate correlation of baseline [PLT] to that of PRP2
(r = 0.4) and PRP1 (r = 0.62), respectively; neither was statistically
significant ( p > 0.05). PRP2 yielded higher
platelet enrichment and growth factor activities despite greater WBC and
RBC contamination than PRP1. Main limitations: Non-randomized
collection methods. Conclusions: Manual, noncommercial methods
of equine PRP preparation can be used to produce PRP in donkeys. Double
centrifugation yielded a more concentrated platelet product with higher
leukocyte contamination than single centrifugation. The clinical utility
of leukocyte contaminated PRP and its optimal platelet concentration,
in vivo efficacy, and safety warrent further investigation.