title: Neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin against oxidant injury following brain irradiation: an experimental study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiation therapy (RT) is a major treatment modality, and the central nervous system is a dose-limiting organ in clinical RT. This experimental study aims to present the evaluation of the neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin (EPO) against oxidant injury following brain irradiation in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n= 10 each). In group 1 the rats received no EPO and underwent sham RT. The rats in groups 2 and 3 received EPO. In group 2 rats underwent sham RT, while in group 3 rats received RT. The rats in group 4 received no EPO and underwent RT. Rats were irradiated using a Cobalt-60 teletherapy machine using a single fraction of 20 Gy covering the whole brain. Cervical dislocation euthanasia was performed. The nitrite and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPX) activities were evaluated in dissected brain tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The nitrite and MDA levels were higher in the RT group (2.10 ±0.62 ppm, 26.02 ±2.16 nmol/ml;p< 0.05) and lower in the EPO + RT group (1.45 ±0.12 ppm, 25.49 ±1.90 nmol/ml;p< 0.05). The SOD and GSHPX activity was higher in the EPO + RT group (2.62 ±0.49 U/mg, 1.75 ±0.25 U/mg,p< 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study supports the probable neuroprotective effects of EPO against oxidant injury following brain irradiation in a rat model, presumably through decreasing free radical production and increasing expression of antioxidant enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Acibadem University, Acibadem Adana Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ugurluer
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Giresun University, Giresun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysegul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cebi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mert
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nihat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mert
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Acibadem University, Acibadem Adana Hospital, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meltem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serin
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Haldun Sukru
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Erkal
keywords: brain; erythropoietin; irradiation; neuroprotective effects; oxidant injury