Auditory processing and learning/memory following erythropoietin administration in neonatally hypoxic-ischemic injured rats.
BACKGROUND
Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a common injury arising from prematurity/complications at birth and is associated with later language, auditory, and learning impairments.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of two doses (300 or 1000 U/kg) of Erythropoietin (Epo) in protecting against neuropathological and behavioral impairments associated with HI injury in rats.


METHODS
HI injury (right carotid artery cauterization and 120 min of 8% O(2)) was induced on postnatal day 7 (P7) and Epo or saline was administered i.p. immediately following the procedure. Auditory processing and learning/memory were assessed throughout development.


RESULTS
Both doses of Epo provided behavioral protection following HI injury. Rats given 300 or 1000 U/kg of Epo performed significantly better than HI animals on a short duration complex auditory processing procedure, on a spatial Morris water maze assessing spatial learning/reference memory, and a non-spatial water maze assessing associative learning/reference memory.


CONCLUSIONS
Given Epo's extant clinical use (FDA approved for pediatric patients with anemia secondary to prematurity), the current results add to a growing body of literature supporting the use of Epo as a potential protective agent for neurological and behavioral impairments following early HI injury in infants.
McClure
Melissa M
MM
Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Division, University of Connecticut, Unit 1020, 806 Babbidge Rd., Storrs, CT 06269-1020, USA.
Threlkeld
Steven W
SW
Fitch
R Holly
RH
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006313:Hearing Loss, Central / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D004921:Erythropoietin