Experimental studies of erythropoietin protection following traumatic brain injury in rats

This study aimed to explore the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on brain tissue after traumatic brain injury in rats. Animals were divided into sham, control and EPO groups. The model was constructed using the improved Feeney’s free falling weight traumatic brain injury model. The brain water content and the number of the apoptotic monocyte chemotactic protein-1(+) (MCP-1(+)) and CD68(+) cells were monitored at 12, 48 and 120 h post-trauma. The water content was lower in the EPO group at each time point compared to the control group. The number of apoptotic MCP-1(+) and CD68(+) cells surrounding the traumatic brain injury lesion was less in the EPO group compared to these values in the control group. In conclusion, following traumatic brain injury, EPO significantly decreased the number of apoptotic cells, the expression of MCP-1, the infiltration of CD68(+) cells as well as brain edema to protect the brain.