Erythropoietinprotein and its mRNA expression in rats cortical neurons following hypoxia / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe erythropoietin (EPO) and its mRNA expression changes in rats cortical neurons when suffering hypoxia and investigate the endogenous EPO protective effect of hypoxia neuronal cells.Methods Cultured cortical neurons were prepared from hypoxia rats and divided into control,hypoxia 12,24,48,72 h group.Using immunohistochemistry,reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot,we observed EPO and its mRNA expression in cells,and also observe the culture medium containing lactate dehydrogenase to evaluate the activity of neurons in the whole process.Results Immunohistochemistry,RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showedthe EPO (20.79 ± 2.98) and its mRNA (0.78 ± 0.05) at 12 h had a basic expression in hypoxia group,compared with the control group (EPO17.12 ± 1.99; mRNA0.39 ± 0.05),and the difference was statistically significant (t =2.51,P ＜ 0.05 ; t =13.51,P ＜ 0.01) ; the strongest expression was observed at 48 h (EPO28.88 ± 3.41,mRNA1.45 ± 0.07),the difference was statistically significant (t =7.29,P ＜ 0.01 ; t =33.24,P ＜ 0.01) ; and neuronal activity was strongest.Lactate dehydrogenase activity was significantly decreased after hypoxia 72 h,and also a statistically significant difference was found between the groups at each point.Conclusions The EPO and EPO mRNA expression are increased after hypoxia in neuron cells,and may enhance the activity of neurons.Our study suggests that EPO might be involved in the development process of neuronal hypoxia and play an important role in neuronal hypoxia process.