Neuroprotective effect of erythropoietin at experimental spinal cord ischemia

Aim. To study dynamics of the ethological status and morphological changes in neurons at experimental spinal cord ischemia influenced by erythropoietin (EPO) administration. Materials and Methods. The research was conducted on 54 outbred white rats. Spinal cord ischemia was modeled via total intravasal occlusion of abdominal aorta and its branches. EPO was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 5000 IU per kg of body weight three times in 3, 24 and 48 hours after induction of lumbar spinal cord ischemia. The ethological status in animals was assessed using the 6-point scale based on the integral indicator of behavioral responses (IIBR). Morphological methods were used to estimate numbers of unchanged neurons, chromatolytic cells, ghost cells, glial cells, and blood vessels in the spinal cord. Results. Experimental spinal cord ischemia induced by total intravasal occlusion of the abdominal aorta and its branches was followed by progressive (from day 3 to day 14) and partially recovering (by day 30) changes in the ethological status manifested by symmetric peripheral paraplegia, apselaphesia of the hind limbs and lumbar spine, fecal and urinary incontinence. Morphological changes of the lumbar spine at spinal ischemia included progressive (from day 3 to day 30) increase in numbers of chromatolytic neurons, ghost cells, glial cells, and small blood vessels; the number of intact neurons was maximally decreased on days 3 and 7 and started recovering on day 30. Conclusion. EPO administration at a total dose of 15000 IU/kg at experimental spinal cord ischemia results in a partial (on day 3) and complete (on days 7-14-30) recovery of animals' behavioral activity. After EPO has been administered, numbers of normal neurons, glial cells, and small blood vessels in the spinal cord are progressively increasing from day 3 do day 30 of observation while the percentage of chromatolytic neurons and ghost cells is progressively decreasing.