Abstract
Background-Parenteral administration of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) to rats induces protection against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury 24 hours later. However, the mechanisms by which rhEPO mediates protection have not been determined. Methods and Results-rhEPO was perfused into isolated rat hearts over 15 minutes immediately before 30 minutes of no-flow ischemia and 45 minutes of reperfusion. Compared with saline-perfused control hearts, recovery of left ventricular developed pressure was increased in rhEPO-perfused hearts. rhEPO also increased AKT activity and decreased apoptosis. All of these effects were blocked when the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase inhibitor wormannin was infused with rhEPO. Conclusions-rhEPO provides immediate protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury in the isolated perfused rat heart that is mediated by the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase pathway.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2050-2053 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Circulation |
Volume | 109 |
Issue number | 17 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 4 2004 |
Keywords
- Erythropoietin
- Ischemia
- Myocardial infarction
- Reperfusion
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Physiology (medical)