6533b833fe1ef96bd129b9c2
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Neuroprotective potential of erythropoietin and darbepoetin alfa in an experimental model of sciatic nerve injury. Laboratory investigation.
Francesco MeliGioacchino CalapaiVincenzo FodaleMichele BuemiGiovanni GrassoDomenico Gerardo Iacopinosubject
MaleTime FactorsDarbepoetin alfaNerve CrushAction PotentialsPlaceboDrug Administration ScheduleRats Sprague-Dawleyadministration /&/ dosage/pharmacologymedicineAnimalsHumansDarbepoetin alfaMuscle SkeletalErythropoietinERYTHROPOIETINdrug effects/injuries/physiopathologySettore MED/27 - Neurochirurgiabusiness.industryAction Potentials; drug effects Animals Drug Administration Schedule Erythropoietin; administration /&/ dosage/analogs /&/ derivatives/pharmacology Humans Male Muscle; Skeletal; physiopathology Nerve Crush Neuroprotective Agents; administration /&/ dosage/pharmacology Rats Rats; Sprague-Dawley Recombinant Proteins Recovery of Function; drug effects Sciatic Nerve; drug effects/injuries/physiopathology Time FactorsGeneral MedicineSkeletalRecovery of FunctionNerve injurySciatic nerve injurymedicine.diseaseadministration /&/ dosage/analogs /&/ derivatives/pharmacologySciatic NerveNeuroprotectionRecombinant ProteinsRatsNeuroprotective AgentsNeurologyErythropoietinPeripheral nerve injuryAnesthesiadrug effectsPeripheral nerve injuryCrush injuryMuscleSurgeryNeurology (clinical)Sciatic nerveSprague-Dawleymedicine.symptomphysiopathologybusinessmedicine.drugdescription
Object The objectives of this study were to examine whether the systemic administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) and its long-lasting derivative darbepoetin alfa expedited functional recovery in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury, and to compare the effects of these agents in the model. Methods Thirty male Sprague–Dawley rats received a crush injury to the left sciatic nerve and subsequently underwent either placebo treatment, daily injections of rHuEPO, or weekly injections of darbepoetin alfa. Results Both rHuEPO and darbepoetin alfa were effective in reducing neurological impairment and improving compound muscle action potentials following nerve injury. Darbepoetin alfa, however, shortened the duration of peripheral nerve recovery and facilitated recovery from the neurological and electrophysiological impairment following crush injury significantly better than rHuEPO. Examination of the footprint length factor data revealed that darbepoetin alfa–treated animals recovered preinjury function by postoperative Day 10, 4 days earlier than animals treated with rHuEPO and 11 days earlier than animals treated with placebo. Conclusions These results suggest that recovery of neurological function in a model of peripheral nerve injury is more rapid with weekly administration of darbepoetin alfa than with daily rHuEPO treatment. Agents that facilitate nerve regeneration have the potential to limit the extent of motor endplate loss and muscle atrophy. The administration of EPO in its long-lasting recombinant forms affords significant neuroprotection in peripheral nerve injury models and may hold promise for future clinical applications.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-01-01 |