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

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.