title: [Impacts of Erythropoietin on Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 by the Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase Signaling Pathway in a Neonatal Rat Model of Periventricular White Matter Damage].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the impacts of erythropoietin on vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) by the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in a neonatal rat model of periventricular white matter damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  All of postnatal day 4 rats were randomized into three groups: the sham group [without hypoxia-ischemia (HI)], the HI group (HI with saline administration), and the erythropoietin (EPO) group [HI with recombinant human erythropoietin (rh-EPO) administration]. Rat pups underwent permanent ligation of the right common carotid artery, followed by 6% O2 for 2 hours or sham operation and normoxic exposure. Immediately after the HI, rats received a single intraventricular injection of rh-EPO (0.6 IU/g body mass) or saline. ERK and phosphorylation-ERK were examined at 60 minutes and 90 minutes after operation, and VEGFR2 were detected at 2 and 4 days after operation by using Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 60 minutes and 90 minutes after operation, the proteins of phosphorylation-ERK were significantly higher in HI rats than in the sham rats and significantly higher in HI+EPO rats than in the HI rats (P<0.05). Two days after operation, VEGFR2 was not significantly different between sham and HI rats. However, the proteins of VEGFR2 were increased after administration of rh-EPO (P<0.05). Four days after operation, the proteins of VEGFR2 were significantly higher in HI rats than in the sham rats and significantly higher in HI+EPO rats than in the HI rats (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPO may regulate VEGFR2 expression by affecting the intracranial ERK signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics,Zhongda Hospital,Medicine School,Southeast University,Nanjing 210009,China;
authors.forename: Qi-chao
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics,Zhongda Hospital,Medicine School,Southeast University,Nanjing 210009,China;
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics,Zhongda Hospital,Medicine School,Southeast University,Nanjing 210009,China;
authors.forename: Li-hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics,Zhongda Hospital,Medicine School,Southeast University,Nanjing 210009,China;
authors.forename: Da-fan
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D066127:White Matter / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2