Background Although reperfusion is the only realistic method of saving the ischemic myocardium and minimizing infarct size, it can itself cause injury. Erythropoietin(EPO) has been shown to protect neurons and kidneys from ischemia/reperfusion(I/R) injury.
Objective We evaluated whether a single intraperitoneal injection of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) would reduce subsequent I/R injury in rat.
Methods and results In 14 male Sprague-Dawley rats (250g), myocardial ischemia induced by left coronary artery ligation for 30 min followed by 120 minute reperfusion. Saline as placebo (N=7) or rhEPO (N=7) was administered intraperitoneally 24 hours before the onset of coronary ligation. Area of ischemia (I) was assessed with retrograde perfusion of Evans blue dye and area of necrosis (N) was measured by tri phenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. Area of ischemia was comparable among groups. Severity of infarction, expressed as a ratio of N / I was significantly smaller than saline treated group (22.96%, placebo 47.57%, p<0.01).
Conclusion These findings suggest that rhEPO reduces myocardial infarct size in rat ischemia/reperfusion model. We propose that rhEPO could be useful to decrease cardiac morbidity and mortality in clinical setting of acute myocardial infarction.