Erythropoietin accelerates functional recovery after moderate sciatic nerve crush injury.
Erythropoietin (EPO) has been identified as a neuroregenerative agent. We hypothesize that it may accelerate recovery after crush injury and may vary with crush severity.



Mice were randomized to mild, moderate, or severe crush of the sciatic nerve and were treated with EPO or vehicle control after injury. The sciatic function index (SFI) was monitored over the first week. Microstructural changes were analyzed by immunofluorescence for neurofilament (NF) and myelin (P0), and electron microscopy was used to assess ultrastructural changes.



In moderate crush injuries, EPO significantly improved SFI at 7 days post-injury, an effect not observed with other severity levels. Increases in the ratio of P0to NF were observed after EPO treatment in moderate crush injuries. Electron microscopy demonstrated endothelial cell hypertrophy in the EPO group.



EPO accelerates recovery in moderately crushed nerves, which may be through effects on myelination and vascularization. Injury severity may influence the efficacy of EPO. Muscle Nerve 56: 143-151, 2017.
Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 665, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
Michael B
MB
Geary
Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 665, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
Haiyan
H
Li
Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
Alissa
A
Zingman
Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
John
J
Ketz
Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 665, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.
Michael
M
Zuscik
Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 665, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.|Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
Karen L
KL
De Mesy Bentley
Department of Biomedical Genetics, Stem Cell Regenerative Medicine Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
Mark
M
Noble
Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 665, Rochester, New York, 14642, USA.|Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
John C
JC
Elfar
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007382:Intermediate Filaments / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018993:Myelin P0 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D018993:Myelin P0 Protein; D004921:Erythropoietin
electron microscopy; erythropoietin; nerve crush injury; neuroregeneration; peripheral nerve injury