title: Erythropoietin does not preserve motor neurons in a mouse model of familial ALS.
abstract: Recombinant human EPO (r-Hu-EPO) protects cultured motor neurons from kainate- and serum deprivation-induced toxicity and readily enters the CNS after systemic injection. We examined the effect of rHuEPO in transgenic mice expressing the human Cu/Zn dependent-superoxide dismutase with G93A mutation (SOD1G93A), a model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. rHuEPO (4 unit/g BW s.c. three times/week), increased the haematocrit and induced a slight delay in impairment of motor function as measured by the rotating bar test. However, it did not prolong life span or reduce motor neuron loss in lumbar spinal cord. The effect on motor function may be due to the improvement of skeletal muscle oxygenation induced by chronic EPO administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Mario Negri Institute, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grignaschi
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zennaro
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tortarolo
authors.forename: Novella
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Calvaresi
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bendotti
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; C109415:SOD1 G93A protein; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase