Summary
Platelets contain chemo-attractants and mitogens that have a major role in tissue
repair. Therefore we hypothesised that tissue regeneration secondary to activation
of endogenous neural stem cells (eNSC) can be enhanced by delivering platelets to
the ischaemic brain. To examine these potential therapeutic effects we injected platelet-poor
plasma (PPP), fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) and platelet lysate (PLT) to the lateral
ventricles after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (PMCAO) in rats. The animals
were tested with the neurological severity score, and infarct volumes were measured
at 90 days post–PMCAO. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the fate of newborn
cells and to count blood vessels in the ischaemic brain. Platelets significantly increased
eNSC proliferation and angiogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and in the peri-lesion
cortex. Functional outcome was significantly improved and injury size was significantly
reduced in rats treated with PLT suggesting additional neuroprotective effects. In
conclusion, local delivery of PLT to the lateral ventricles induces angiogenesis,
neurogenesis and neuroprotection and reduces behavioural deficits after brain ischaemia.
Keywords
Angiogenesis - neurogenesis - neuroprotection - platelets - cerebral ischaemia