title: Erythropoietin: a possible cytoprotective cytokine in acute necrotizing pancreatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite decades of research and clinical trials, a specific therapeutic treatment for acute pancreatitis (AP) has yet to be developed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of erythropoietin on the severity of taurocolic acid-induced acute necrotizing pancreatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven male Wistar albino rats were randomized into seven experimental groups. In group I, animals were sham-operated (n = 5). In groups II, III, IV, IIepo, IIIepo, and IVepo, AP was induced by sodium taurodeoxycholate treatment (n = 7). In groups II, III, and IV, 1 ml normal saline and in groups IIepo, IIIepo, and IVepo, 1000 U/kg body weight erythropoietin (EPO) was administered intramuscularly immediately after the induction of AP. Animals were killed at 24, 48, and 72 h postoperatively. Histopathological and biochemical evaluations were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tissue levels of malondialdehyde were found to be significantly lower in EPO-administered groups when compared with the levels in groups without EPO treatment. The severity of pancreatic edema, acinar necrosis, inflammation, and perivascular infiltrate were reduced in all the EPO groups compared with the no-treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings may reflect the possible cytoprotective effect of EPO in acute necrotizing pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Zonguldak Karaelmas University, School of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bulent Hamdi
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Ucan
authors.forename: Oktay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Irkorucu
authors.forename: Guldeniz Karadeniz
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Cakmak
authors.forename: Oge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tascilar
authors.forename: Ishak Ozel
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: Serefden
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Acikgoz
authors.forename: Ali Ugur
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Emre
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bahadir
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ankarali
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Comert