• Chun-Man Yuen, Steve Leu, Fan-Yen Lee, Chia-Hung Yen, Yu-Chun Lin, Sarah Chua, Sheng-Ying Chung, Han-Tan Chai, Jiunn-Jye Sheu, Sheung-Fat Ko, Cheuk-Kwan Sun, and Hon-Kan Yip.
• Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Hsien, Taiwan.
• J. Investig. Med. 2010 Oct 1; 58 (7): 893-904.

BackgroundThe impact of epoetin beta (recombinant human erythropoietin) on brain infarction area (BIA) and neurological status in a rat model of acute ischemic stroke (IS) induced by distal left internal carotid artery occlusion was investigated.MethodsAdult male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 30) were categorized into group 2 (IS only) and group 3 (IS plus intraperitoneal erythropoietin 5000 IU/kg at 0, 12, and 24 hours after IS). Healthy Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 10) served as group 1.ResultsAnalysis of brain tissues showed larger BIA in group 2 than in group 3 (P < 0.001). Corner test identified highest frequency of left turn in group 2 (P < 0.05). The mRNA expressions of Bax, caspase 3, interleukin 18, toll-like receptor 4, and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 were highest, whereas Bcl-2 was lowest in group 2 (P < 0.05). Lower CXCR4 and stromal cell-derived factor 1 expressions were noted in group 2 than in group 3 (P < 0.01). Immunohistofluorescence staining showed lower expressions of CXCR4, stromal cell-derived factor 1, von Willebrand factor, and doublecortin with higher number of apoptotic nuclei in group 2 than in group 3 (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated lower cellular proliferation and number of small vessels with higher glial fibrillary acid protein expression in group 2 than in group 3 (P < 0.01).ConclusionsErythropoietin significantly limited BIA and improved sensorimotor dysfunction after acute IS.

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