Neuroprotective potential of erythropoietin and darbepoetin alfa in an experimental model of sciatic nerve injury. Laboratory investigation.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to examine whether the systemic administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) and its long-lasting derivative darbepoetin alfa expedited functional recovery in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury, and to compare the effects of these agents in the model.


METHODS
Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats received a crush injury to the left sciatic nerve and subsequently underwent either placebo treatment, daily injections of rHuEPO, or weekly injections of darbepoetin alfa.


RESULTS
Both rHuEPO and darbepoetin alfa were effective in reducing neurological impairment and improving compound muscle action potentials following nerve injury. Darbepoetin alfa, however, shortened the duration of peripheral nerve recovery'and facilitated recovery from the neurological and electrophysiological impairment following crush injury significantly better than rHuEPO. Examination of the footprint length factor data revealed that darbepoetin alfa-treated animals recovered preinjury function by postoperative Day 10, 4 days earlier than animals treated with rHuEPO and 11 days earlier than animals treated with placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that recovery of neurological function in a model of peripheral nerve injury is more rapid with weekly administration of darbepoetin alfa than with daily rHuEPO treatment. Agents that facilitate nerve regeneration have the potential to limit the extent of motor endplate loss and muscle atrophy. The administration of EPO in its long-lasting recombinant forms affords significant neuroprotection in peripheral nerve injury models and may hold promise for future clinical applications.
Grasso
Giovanni
G
Neurosurgical Clinic, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Palermo, Italy. ggrasso@unipa.it
Meli
Francesco
F
Fodale
Vincenzo
V
Calapai
Gioacchino
G
Buemi
Michele
M
Iacopino
Domenico G
DG
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D009409:Nerve Crush; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa