[Protection effect of recombiant human erythropoietin preconditioning against intrauterine hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and its influence on expression of caspase-3 protein in brain tissue].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the effects of recombine human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on neural cells apoptosis and the expression of Caspase-3 protein in brain tissue of fetal rats after intrauterine hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

METHODS:

Forty-four Sprague-Dawley rats on 19 days of pregnancy were divided into rhEPO treated group, ischemia-reperfusion group and sham-operated group. Intrauterine hypoxic-ischemic injury of fetal rats was induced by bilateral occlusion of the utero-ovarian artery for 20 min. rhEPO (5000 U/kg) was injected into rats through caudal vein in rhEPO treated group while saline was injected into rats in hypoxic-ischemic group 30 min before hypoxic-ischemic injury. The brain samples in rhEPO treated group and hypoxic-ischemic group were obtained at 30 min, 3 h, 6 h, 24 h and 48 h respectively after artery clamping. There was no hypoxic-ischemic injury in sham-operated group, so the brain samples were obtained at 24 hours after sham operation. Neuroapoptosis in brain tissue was measured by TdT mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (Tunel) staining. The expression of Caspase-3 protein was observed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS:

The number of apoptosis cells in fetal rat hippocampus after intrauterine hypoxic-ischemic increased progressively with reperfusion. Compared with the I/R group, the number of apoptosis cells decreased in rhEPO treated group (P < 0.01). The expression of Caspase-3 increased rapidly after 3 hours from the reperfusion in the I/R group. Compared with the I/R group, there was less expression of Caspase-3 in rhEPO treated group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION:

rhEPO showed the effects to inhibit the apoptosis of fetal neural cells and the expression of Caspase-3 protein due to intrauterine hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

• Authors: Yu-Shan Ma, Jun Zhou, Hui Liu, Yu Du, Xue-Mei Lin
• Journal: Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition (Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban) Vol. 44 Issue 3 Pg. 397-401 (May 2013) ISSN: 1672-173X [Print] China
• PMID: 23898521 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• EPO protein, human
• Recombinant Proteins
• Erythropoietin
• Casp3 protein, rat
• Caspase 3

Topics

• Animals
• Brain (metabolism)
• Caspase 3 (genetics, metabolism)
• Erythropoietin (biosynthesis, genetics, therapeutic use)
• Female
• Fetal Hypoxia (metabolism, therapy)
• Humans
• Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain (metabolism, prevention & control)
• Ischemic Preconditioning (methods)
• Male
• Pregnancy
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Recombinant Proteins (biosynthesis, genetics, therapeutic use)
• Reperfusion Injury (prevention & control)