title: The combination of insulin-like growth factor 1 and erythropoietin protects against ischemic spinal cord injury in rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and erythropoietin (EPO) have been reported to independently protect against ischemic spinal cord injury in rabbits. In the present study, we investigated whether the combination of IGF-1 and EPO protects against ischemic spinal cord injury in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were assigned to 1 of 4 groups (n = 6 in each): a control group (saline), an IGF-1 group (IGF-1 0.3 mg/kg), an EPO group (EPO 800 U/kg), or an IGF-1 + EPO group (IGF-1 0.3 mg/kg + EPO 800 U/kg). Spinal cord ischemia was produced by occluding the abdominal aorta for 15 min. Saline, IGF-1, and EPO were administered intravenously just after the start of reperfusion. Hindlimb motor function was assessed daily for 7 days, after which histopathological evaluation was performed. To analyze phosphorylation of signal transduction molecules, animals were assigned to 1 of the 4 groups (n = 8 in each). Spinal cord ischemia and the treatment were the same as those described above. The spinal cords were removed at 15 or 30 min after reperfusion and used to analyze phosphorylation of signal transduction molecules. Four animals served as the preischemic control, and the spinal cord was removed just before the start of ischemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the IGF-1 + EPO group, both neurological and histopathological outcomes were significantly improved as compared to the control group, which was consistent with the increase of Janus kinase-2 (JAK2) phosphorylation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of IGF-1 and EPO protects against ischemic spinal cord injury in rabbits. JAK2 might contribute to the protective effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan. utada@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kohji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Utada
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan. ishid002@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan. sugurutohyama@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Suguru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tohyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan. t003uf@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Urushima
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan. mizukami@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizukami
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan. ymst2699@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Atsuo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan. uch0809@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan. mishiya@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Mishiya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011817:Rabbits; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D004921:Erythropoietin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
keywords: Erythropoietin; Insulin-like growth factor 1; Rabbit; Spinal cord ischemia