Protective Effects of Erythropoietin on Focal Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion in Rats and Expression of P53 Protein

Objective:To observe the protective effects of erythropoietin (Epo)in rats after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Methods:Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into Epo treated groups (A,B),non-treated group (C),sham-operation group (D).Longa's score,TTC stain,cerebral water content,HE stain,TUNEL were used to observe its neurological deficits,pathologi- cal changes and neural apoptosis.Western blot was used to observe p53 expression.Results:Apart from group D,different infarction fo- cus could be seen in the other groups after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.,and P53 protein expression could be seen in ischemic center and penumbra 24h after focal cerebral ischemic-reperfusion injury.Administration of Epo within 6h after focal cerebral ischemi- a-reperfusion in the rats greatly improved the Longa's score,reduced the infarction volume and cerebral water content,ameliorate neu- ropathologic lesion and reduced neuronal p53 protein expression and apoptosis.Conclusion:Epo has neuroprotective effects and de- crease p53 protein expression.Anti-apoptosis is one of its mechanisms in alleviating ischemia-reperfusion injury.