• Abdullah Kumral, Sevil Gonenc, Osman Acikgoz, Atac Sonmez, Kursad Genc, Osman Yilmaz, Necati Gokmen, Nuray Duman, and Hasan Ozkan.
• Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti, Izmir, Turkey.
• Biol. Neonate. 2005 Jan 1; 87 (1): 15-8.

BackgroundWe have previously shown that erythropoietin (Epo) exerts neuroprotective effects in the Rice-Vannucci model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. However, the mechanisms of Epo protection in this model are still unclear.ObjectivesIn the present study, we studied the effects of systemically administered Epo on lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) activities following hypoxic-ischemic brain injury in neonatal rats.MethodsSeven-day-old Wistar rat pups were subjected to left carotid artery occlusion followed by 2.5 h of hypoxic exposure. Brain lipid peroxidation levels and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured in the injured hemispheres 24 h after the hypoxic-ischemic insult.ResultsHypoxic-ischemic injury significantly increased the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels in the injured hemispheres as compared to the control group. In addition, glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly elevated in Epo-treated animals compared to saline-treated animals and the control group.ConclusionsThese results suggest that Epo exerts neuroprotective effects against hypoxic-ischemic brain injury at least partially via the modulation of antioxidant enzyme activity.

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