• Ummuhani Ozel Turkcu, Guldeniz Karadeniz Cakmak, Ebru Ofluoglu Demir, Hakan Bakkal, Muzaffer Onder Oner, Rahsan Dilek Okyay, Ibrahim Cumhur Bassorgun, and Mehmet Akif Ciftcioglu.
• Mugla School of Health Sciences, Mugla University, Mugla, Turkey. ozelu_ozelu@yahoo.com
• J Invest Surg. 2012 Apr 1; 25 (2): 127-35.

AimThe aim of the present study is to evaluate the possible protective effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on anastomotic wound healing after preoperative radiotherapy according to its pleiotropic mechanism of action.MethodsThirty-two male Wistar albino rats were randomized into four groups containing eight rats each: ANAS group, standard resection plus anastomosis; RT+ANAS group, radiation plus standard resection plus anastomosis; ANAS+EPO group, standard resection plus anastomosis plus EPO; RT+ANAS+EPO, radiation plus standard resection plus anastomosis plus EPO. All animals were sacrificed by cardiac puncture, and anastomotic healing was measured by bursting pressure, hydroxyproline (OHP) levels, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histopathological evaluations. Malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were also measured in serum specimens.ResultsOHP levels in the RT+ANAS + EPO group were significantly increased compared with other groups (p < .05). In contrast, MPO activity in the RT+ANAS+EPO group was significantly decreased compared with other groups (p < .05). Serum MDA levels were found to be decreased in the ANAS+EPO and RT+ANAS+EPO groups (p < .05). Group comparisons demonstrated that bursting pressure was significantly higher in EPO treated rats (p < .05). The histopathology results revealed that EPO treatment improves anastomotic wound healing though decreased necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration and increased fibroblast activity.ConclusionThe findings of the present study indicate that EPO contributes to wound healing and the strength of colon anastomosis following radiation due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but further studies are needed to explore the significance of these effects.

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