The influence of erythropoietin treatment on oxidative stress parameters in cortex of rats exposed to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion

Background and Purpose: Erythropoietin (Epo) plays a central role in process of erythropoiesis. Recently, its neuroprotective potential was reported in various experimental models of brain damage. However, the mechanism of Epo protection is still unclear. In the present study, we examined the effect of Epo administration on lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidant enzymes’ (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)) activities in rat cortex following focal cerebral ischemia. Material and Methods: Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in male HanoverWistar rats (250–350 g) by right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model for 1 hr. After 23 hrs of reperfusion, ischemic animals were sacrificed and the levels of lipid peroxidation, SOD and GSH-Px activities were determined spectrophotometrically in the right cortex. Ischemic animals received either vehicle or Epo (5000 IU/kg, intraperitoneally) immediately or 3 hrs after MCAO, and were sacrificed 23 hrs or 21 hrs later, respectively. Sham operated, vehicle treated animals served as the control group. Results and Conclusion: Focal cerebral ischemia significantly increased the level of oxidative lipid damage parameters in the right cortex as compared to the control group without affecting SOD and GSH-Px activities. The decrease in level of lipid peroxidation after Epo treatment was registered but it was not statistically significant. Our results indicate that focal cerebral ischemia caused neuronal damage in the right cortex and that Epo treatment was not effective in preventing above mentioned alteration