Erythropoietin protects severe haemorrhagic shock-induced organ damage in conscious rats

Wu, Wen-Tien; Lin, Nien-Tsung; Subeq, Yi-Maun; Lee, Ru-Ping; Chen, Ing-Ho; Hsu, Bang-Gee

doi:10.1016/j.injury.2009.12.006

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Volume 41, Issue 7 , Pages 724-730, July 2010

Erythropoietin protects severe haemorrhagic shock-induced organ damage in conscious rats

Wen-Tien Wu
- Institute of Medical Sciences, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Department of Orthopedics, Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
Nien-Tsung Lin
- Institute of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
Yi-Maun Subeq
- Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
Ru-Ping Lee
- Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
Ing-Ho Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
Bang-Gee Hsu
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
- Division of Nephrology, Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
- Corresponding author at: School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, No. 701, Section 3, Chung Yang Rd. 97004, Hualien, Taiwan. Tel.: +886 3 8561825; fax: +886 3 8577161.

Accepted 8 December 2009.

Abstract

Objective

Erythropoietin (EPO) has pleiotropic cytoprotective actions. We investigated the effects of EPO on the physiopathology and cytokine levels after haemorrhagic shock (HS) in conscious rats.

Methods

Rats received an intravenous injection of 300U/kg EPO over 10min followed by HS via withdrawal of 60% of total blood volume from a femoral arterial catheter (6ml/100g body weight) over 30min. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were monitored continuously for 18h after the start of blood withdrawal. Levels of biochemical parameters, including haemoglobin, GOT, GPT, BUN, creatinine (Cr), LDH, CPK, and lactate were measured at 30min before the induction of HS and 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18h after HS. Cytokine levels, including TNF-α and IL-6, in serum were measured at 1, 9, and 18h after HS. The kidneys, liver, lungs, and small intestine were removed for pathology assessment at 48h after HS.

Results

HS significantly increased HR, blood GOT, GPT, BUN, Cr, LDH, CPK, lactate, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels and decreased haemoglobin and MAP in rats. Pre-treatment with EPO improved survival rate, preserved the MAP, decreased the tachycardia and markers of organ injury, suppressed the release of TNF-α and IL-6 after HS in rats.

Conclusion

Pre-treatment with EPO suppresses the release of serum TNF-α and IL-6, along with decreasing the levels of markers of organ injury associated with HS, with such actions ameliorating HS-induced organ damage in rats.

Keywords: Haemorrhagic shock, Erythropoietin, Inflammatory cytokines