The study of neuroprotection about erythropoietin on traumatic brain injury in rats

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of erythropoietin (EPO) administration on blood-brain barrier (BBB), brain edema, brain injury volume and NSE levels in serum after TBI in rats. Method: Experimental TBI was induced in rats by a weight-drop model. A total of 72 adult Wistar rats were divided into sham operation group (n=24), control group (n=24), EPO treatment group (n=24). Forty-eight hours after injury, extent of BBB breakdown, brain water content and injury volume were observed and 24 hours after injury neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in serum was measured. Result: BBB breakdown was lower in EPO group (67.3 ±13.1μg/g) than that in control group (182.8±15.9 μg/g, P0.01). Brain edema reduced in EPO group (80.6%±0.2%) compared with that in control group(91.8%±0.6%, P0.01). EPO treatment (17.9±4.0mm3) reduced brain injury volume compared with that in control group(37.7±3.8mm3, P0.01).NSE levels in serum was lower in EPO group(6.28±3.37ng/ml) than that in control group (10.02±1.50ng/ml,P0.05). Conclusion:Administration of EPO can keep the integrity of BBB, and reduce brain injury volume, brain edema and neuron damage.