title: Erythropoietin protects from post-traumatic edema in the rat brain.
abstract: Erythropoietin (Epo) is gaining interest in various neurological insults as a possible neuroprotective agent. We determined the effects of recombinant human Epo (rhEpo, 5000 IU per kg bw) on brain edema induced in rats by traumatic brain injury (TBI; impact-acceleration model; rhEpo administration 30 mins after injury). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a gravimetric technique were applied. In the MRI experiments, the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and the tissue T(1) relaxation time were measured hourly in the neocortex and caudoputamen, during a 6 h time span after TBI. In the gravimetric experiments, brain water content (BWC) was determined in these two regions, 6 h after TBI. Apparent diffusion coefficient measurements showed that rhEpo decreased brain edema early and durably. Gravimetric measurements showed that rhEpo decreased BWC at H(6) in the neocortex as well as in the caudoputamen. No significant differences in ADC, in T(1), or in BWC were found between rhEpo treated-TBI rats and sham-operated rats. Our findings show that post-traumatic administration of rhEpo can significantly reduce the development of brain edema in a model of diffuse TBI. Further studies should be conducted to identify the biochemical mechanisms involved in these immediate effects and to assess the use of rhEpo as a possible therapy for post-traumatic brain edema.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U594, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Verdonck
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lahrech
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Francony
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carle
authors.forename: Régine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farion
authors.forename: Yohan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Van de Looij
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Remy
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Segebarth
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Payen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin