Premium
Neuroprotective effect of asialoerythropoietin in rats
Author(s) -
Price Chrystal,
Camporesi Enrico
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a778-b
Subject(s) - neuroprotection , medicine , saline , erythropoietin , anesthesia , h&e stain , staining , pharmacology , pathology
Single doses of asialoerythropoietin (asialoEPO), a derivative of the cytokine erythropoietin, have been shown to provide neuroprotection in acute conditions. The aim of this study was to determine if a continuous infusion of asialoEPO can provide delayed neuroprotection measured four days post injury. Reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was induced for 90 minutes, immediately followed by subcutaneous implantation of an osmotic mini‐pump (control=saline, experimental=asialoEPO, 20 μg/kg per day). Neurological testing was performed on postoperative day 1 and 4 (0=no deficit and 5=unresponsive). On day 4, saline perfused brains were exposed to TTC staining for measurement of infarction area (NIH available software, ImageJ) followed by 10% formalin fixation and histological staining (hematoxylin and eosin). Hematocrit was not significantly different between groups. Both groups demonstrated a improved neurological score between day 1 and day 4, but there was no difference in the improvement between groups. AsialoEPO resulted in a 28% reduction in average infarct area compared to saline controls (p=0.008). Preliminary histological analysis revealed a decreased amount of disrupted parenchymal structures in the asialoEPO group. The present study suggests that a continuous infusion of asialoEPO can provide prolonged neuroprotection as revealed on post‐injury day four. Funded by the Department of Anesthesiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University.