title: Oxidative stress and protective effect of erythropoietin on methotrexate-induced esophageal damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An experimental study was conducted to investigate the role of oxidative stress and effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on methotrexate-induced esophageal damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into 3 groups: Sham operation animals (group S) were administered subcutaneous injections of 0.2 mL of 0.9% NaCl; control animals (group MTX) were administered subcutaneous injections of methotrexate (5 mg/kg) and EPO-treated animals (group EPO) were administered subcutaneous injections of methotrexate (5 mg/kg) and EPO (2000 IU/kg) once daily for 4 consecutive days. At the fifth day, the distal 1.5-cm esophageal segments were harvested for biochemical and histologic investigations. Oxidative damage was assessed by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde and nitric oxide, and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase in homogenized samples of esophageal tissue. Histologic damage to esophageal tissue was scored and total tissue damage scores were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Malondialdehyde levels in the S and EPO groups were significantly lower than those in the MTX group (P<0.05). Catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, and nitric oxide levels in the S and EPO groups were significantly higher than those in the MTX group (P<0.05). Esophageal tissue damage was significantly less in the EPO group than that in the MTX group (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Free radicals elevate in methotrexate given rats' esophagus and EPO has significant preventive effects on methotrexate-induced oxidative damage of esophagus in a rat model.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Sütcü Imam University, Kahramanmaraş, Turkey. mgaripardic@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garipardic
authors.forename: Vedat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bakan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davutoğlu
authors.forename: Hamide
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sayar
authors.forename: Ergül Belge
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Kurutaş
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000633:toxicity*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000633:toxicity*; D052016:Mucositis / Q000139:chemically induced; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D004921:Erythropoietin; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008727:Methotrexate