A study on the Effect of Erythropoietin Treatment on Healing of Renal Damage in Male Albino Rats

This study investigated the healing effect of erythropoietin treatment on renal damage
in male albino rats. This work was carried out on 24 male albino rats, divided into
four equal groups. Group (1) Control group: injected by 0.2ml saline intraperitonealy
(2) Mercuric chloride (HgCl2) treated group: rats were injected intraperitonealy by
single dose(3mg/kg) of HgCl2, group(3): Erythropoietin (Epo) treated group: rats
were treated by intraperitoneal injection of Epo (1000u/kg) /day for 2 weeks, and
group (4) HgCl2 and Epo treated group: rats were injected by single dose of HgCl2
and Epo for 2 weeks. At the end of experimental period, rats were sacrificed and
blood samples were collected and sera were separated for estimation of serum levels
of creatinine, urea, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione concentration,
malondialdehyde and haematocrit value. The abdomen was dissected and kidney was
excised and fixed in formalin for histopathological examination. The results showed
in HgCl2 treated group, significant increase in serum creatinine, urea and
malondialdehyde levels, and significant reduction in glutathione concentration,
glutathione peroxidase and haematocrit value (HV) levels compared with control.
Epo treated group showed significant reduction in serum levels of creatinine, and
malondialdehyde, and significant increase in HV value levels, compared with the
control. HgCl2 and Epo treated group showed, signification reduction in
malondialdehyde, creatinine and urea and significant increase in glutathione
concentration, glutathione peroxidase and HV compared with HgCl2 group.
Histopathological examination showed necrosis of renal tubular epithelium and
dilated proximal and distal tubules and wide Bowman's capsule in HgCl2 treated
group. HgCl2 and Epo treated group showed improvement of renal tubular
epithelium, mild dilatation of Bowman's capsule and bone marrow derived cells. It is
concluded that, Epo treatment improved renal damage due to HgCl2 and promote
healing of renal tissue, and it is recommended to be used in chronic renal disease.