Torun YA, Ozdemir MA, Ulger H, Nisari M, Akalın H, Patıroglu T, Ozkul Y, Onal M, Karakukcu M. Erythropoietin improves brain development in short-term hypoxia in rat
embryo cultures.
Brain Dev 2014;
36:864-9. [PMID:
24529975 DOI:
10.1016/j.braindev.2014.01.005]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2013] [Revised: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy continues to be a significant cause of death and disability worldwide. Erythropoietin (EPO) has the potential to lessen neurologic sequelae due to hypoxia-ischemia.
METHODS
The in vitro effects of EPO on total embryonic development and brain VEGF receptor (VEGFR) expressions were investigated in 50 rat embryos at 9.5 days of gestation that were cultured in whole rat serum (WRS). According to the study protocol, the embryos were divided into two groups. The first group is comprised hypoxia, 100 and 50 U/ml EPO after hypoxia groups. Group 2 comprised control (WRS) and WRS+EPO. After 48-h culture, the embryos from each group were harvested to be analyzed according to a morphological scoring system and also genetically to measure brain VEGFR expression.
RESULTS
The mean morphological scores for the embryos grown in control, WRS+EPO, hypoxia, and in the presence of 100 and 50 U/ml EPO in hypoxic medium were 55.30±7.22, 52.10±5.27, 23.0±4.60, 36.20±5.07, and 19.70±5.07, respectively. Expressions of VEGFR-1, -2, -3 were significantly elevated in the 100U/ml EPO and WRS+EPO groups compared to the hypoxia group (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
These results support the conclusion that (1) VEGFR-1, -2, -3 may increase with EPO treatment in hypoxic conditions, (2) VEGF and EPO may be part of a self-regulated physiological protection mechanism to prevent neuronal injury including in utero neural tube defects.
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