Expression and significance of erythropoietin and its receptors in rats with traumatic brain injury

Objective To study the expressions of erythmpoietin(EPO)and its receptors(EPOR)in the injured brain tissue ofthe rats with traumatic brain injury(TBI).Methods A total of78 SD rats were randomly divided into three groups including control group(six rats),sham group(36rats) and fluid percussion injury group(36 rats).The rats were sacrificed at 6,24 hours,3,5,7 and 14days after TBI in the sham group and the fluid percussion injury group(six rats at each time point).Then,the injured brain tissues were removed for observation of the mRNA and protein expressions of EPO and EPOR by meaDiB of real-time PCR and Western blot. Results The expression of EPO was increased at 24 hours and reached the peak at day 3 after TBI.The hish expression level of EPO could maintain for two days or so.began to decrease at day 7 and recovered to normal at day 14 after Till.While the expression of EPOR reached the peak at 24 hours after TBI and maintained hish level at day14. Conclusions The expressions of EPO and EPOR show increase within 24 hours after TBI.In fact,the expressions of both factors are not in consistency,with more transient expression of EPO. Key words: Brain injuries; Erythropoietin; Receptor