Neuroprotective effect of erythropoietin after experimental cold injury-induced vasogenic brain edema in rats.
BACKGROUND
The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficiency of EPO in the treatment of cold injury-induced brain edema, apoptosis, and inflammation and to compare its effectiveness with DSP.


METHODS
One hundred fifteen adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing between 280 and 300 g were used for the study. Rats were divided into 5 groups. Controls received craniotomy only. The injury group underwent cold injury and had no medication. In the EPO group, a single dose of 1000 IU/kg body weight of EPO was administered. The DSP group received 0.2 mg/kg body weight of DSP. The vehicle group received a vehicle solution containing human serum albumin, which is the solvent for EPO. Brain edema was formed by cold injury using metal sterile rods with a diameter of 4 mm that were previously cooled at -80 degrees C. Twenty-four hours after the injury, animals were decapitated and brain tissues were investigated for brain edema, tissue MPO and caspase-3 levels, and ultrastructure.


RESULTS
A significant increase in brain water content was revealed in injury group of rats at 24 hours after cold injury. Injury significantly increased tissue MPO and caspase-3 levels and resulted in ultrastructural damage. Both EPO and DSP markedly decreased tissue MPO and caspase-3 levels and preserved ultrastructure of the injured brain cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
Erythropoietin and DSP were found to be neuroprotective in cold injury-induced brain edema model in rats via anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory actions.
Okutan
Ozerk
O
Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara Ataturk Research and Education Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ozerkokutan@hotmail.com
Turkoglu
Omer Faruk
OF
Gok
Hayriye Beril
HB
Beskonakli
Etem
E
D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D004921:Erythropoietin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D009195:Peroxidase; D053148:Caspase 3