Introduction: The aim of this study is to identify the effect of erythropoietin (EPO) on regeneration in peripheral nerve injury (cut,crush) and to assess whether it can be safely used in peripheral nerve treatment.
Methods: Female Wistar-Albino rats were used in this study and the subjects were separated into 7 groups.
Group1(n=10):External circumferential neurolysis
Group2A(n=10):Transection and repair with 4 sutures (0-3-6-9 clockwise) (4S)
Group2B(n=10):4S+Intraperitoneal EPO administration
Group2C(n=10):4S+Local EPO administration
Group3A(n=10):The animal group exposed to crush injury (CI)
Group3B(n=10):CI+Intraperitoneal EPO administration
Group3C(n=10):CI+Local EPO administration
Intraperitoneal EPO was administered to the subjects in Group 2B and 3B at a dose of 5000U/kg daily.Local EPO was given into damaged and repaired area with an injector in Group 2C and 3C.The nerves were evaluated with macroscopic,histopathological and biochemical examination 6 weeks following the administration.Inflammation, degeneration,necrosis,fibrosis and increased vascularity were examined in the histopathological examination.Interleukin 1Beta (IL1ß) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels were obtained for biochemical assessment.The results were statistically evaluated with using SPSS program.
Results: Group2(CI);Inflammation and degeneration were statistically significant between 2B and 2A,and between 2C and sham.Fibrosis was significantly different between 2A and sham.Increased vascularity was significantly different between 2C and sham.Statistically significant difference was found in IL1ß levels between sham and the study groups:2A,2B,and 2C.TNF levels were significantly different between sham and 2A,2B,2C and also between sham and 2B, 2C.
Group3(CI);Inflammation was significantly different between 3C and sham and also was different between 3C and 3B.Increased vascularity was significantly different between 2C and sham.Statistically significant difference was found in IL1ß levels between sham and the study groups:2A,2B,and 2C.TNF levels were between sham and A,2B,2C and also between sham and 2B,2C.
Conclusions: It was concluded that local or systemic administration of erythropoietin in peripheral nerve cut or crush injury might have positive effects on the nerve healing.Further studies with larger sample size and longer follow-up duration are required on this issue.
Patient Care: erythropoietin can be used in peripheral nerve injury.
Learning Objectives: administration of erythropoietin in peripheral nerve cut or crush injury might have positive effects on the nerve healing.