title: The protective effect of erythropoietin on ischaemia/reperfusion injury of liver.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Besides its haematopoietic effect, erythropoietin (EPO) has multiple protective effects, i.e. antiapoptotic, antioxidant and angiogenic properties. The neuroprotective effects of EPO against ischaemia have all been demonstrated in cell culture and animal models. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of erythropoietin on ischaemia-reperfusion injury (I/R injury) of the liver.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g were divided into three groups: group I, hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion (Hepatic I/R); group II, hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion + EPO (Hepatic I/R+ EPO); group III, sham. Hepatic ischaemia was created by placing a microvascular clamp on the hepatic pedicle for 45 minutes. EPO was given to group II at a dose of 1000 U/kg 120 minutes before the onset of the ischaemia. Blood samples and liver tissues were obtained after 45 minutes of reperfusion from half of the rats in each group. The remaining rats were killed after a 24-hour observation period and blood and tissue samples were obtained. Blood alanine aminotransferase, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and liver tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined. Liver tissue histopathology was also evaluated by light microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In rats with hepatic ischaemia, serum levels of ALT, TNF-alpha, IL-2 and liver tissue levels of MDA were reduced by the administration of erythropoietin and the histopathological score was also less severe.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that pre-ischaemic administration of EPO has protective effects on hepatic I/R injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sezgin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Ersin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ates
authors.forename: Cigdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tokyol
authors.forename: Turan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pehlivan
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erkasap
authors.forename: Tulay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koken