Effect of erythropoietin on rat neuronal apoptosis and cytochrome c release in hippocampal CA_1 subregion after transient global cerebral ischemia

Objective To explore the neuroprotection mechanism of erythropoietin(EPO). Methods Transient global cerebral ischemia model was made by four-vessel occlusion(4-VO)technique. Male Spraque-Dawley rats were the experimental objects and were randomly separated into 3 groups including Sham,Saline control and EPO-Pretreatment. At 3h before global cerebral ischemia,saline or recombinant Human Erythropoietin(rHuEPO)was respectively injected into the lateral ventricle of rat,with the help of stereotaxic coordinates,upon the designed conditions. The Sham rats were only performed the incision on cervix but without any treatment on the arteries. Expression of cytochrome c(CytC)was observed at 24h and neuronal apoptosis was checked at 72h after the model operation,in hippocampal CA 1 subregion. Results Hippocampal CA 1 subregion showed stronger expression of cytochrome c presenting punctual distribution but less cells of apoptosis in EPO group than in Saline group(P 0.01). Conclusion Pretreatment of EPO could reduce the neuronal apoptosis but inhibit cytochrome c release into cytoplasm in hippocampal CA 1 subregion in the modeled rat.