Chronic treatment with human recombinant erythropoietin increases hematocrit and improves water maze performance in mice.
Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein produced endogenously in the kidney, which stimulates red blood cell production. We evaluated the effects of chronic treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin alfa: EPO) on the performance of 6-month-old male C57BL/6J mice in a spatial learning task, the Morris water maze. Mice were treated with either EPO (1.5 U injected SC every other day) or vehicle (PBS also injected SC every other day). Results indicated that the treatment had no effect on maze performance after 8 weeks, but after 19 weeks the EPO-treated mice showed better performance compared to controls as measured by mean distance (centimeters) to reach the goal platform. The improved performance in EPO-treated mice at 19 weeks was accompanied by an increased hematocrit. After 32 wk of EPO-treatment, the hematocrit returned to baseline levels even though the size and density of the red blood cells were increased.
Hengemihle
J M
JM
Molecular Physiology and Genetics Section, Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Abugo
O
O
Rifkind
J
J
Spangler
E
E
Danon
D
D
Ingram
D K
DK
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin