Early and late erythropoietin do not alter oxygen induced retinopathy severity in a rat model of anemia

Erythropoietin did not significantly alter retinopathy severity in anemic or non-anemic rat models, though it did affect inflammatory pathways in non-anemic retinas.

Summary and findings

The study measured the effects of early and late erythropoietin (Epo) administration on retinopathy of prematurity in a rat model of anemia. Epo was administered at a dose of 5000 U/kg/dose intraperitoneally from postnatal day 3 to 19 or from day 10 to 19. The findings indicated that neither early nor late Epo administration altered the severity of retinopathy in anemic or non-anemic pups.

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <p>Exogenous erythropoietin (Epo) is administered to preterm infants to mitigate anemia and reduce red blood cell transfusions, yet its impact on retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of early and late Epo in a rat model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) and anemia. Using the rat 50/10 OIR model, phlebotomy was initiated at postnatal day 3 (P3) to a target hematocrit of 15–20%. Pups received early (P3–P19) or late (P10–P19) Epo (5000 U/kg/dose IP) or saline. Retinal vascular morphometry, RNA sequencing, qPCR, and cytokine profiles were analyzed at P20. Anemia reduced avascular area and retinal hemorrhages. Neither early nor late Epo administration altered percent avascular or neovascular area in anemic or non-anemic pups. In anemic rat retinas, Epo had negligible molecular impact. In contrast, in non-anemic retinas, late Epo reduced retinal hemorrhages and pro-inflammatory cytokines along with altering the retinal transcriptome to implicate activation of apoptosis and inhibition of vascular development. Therefore, we conclude that neither early nor late Epo alter anatomical OIR severity or exert clinically relevant molecular effects during anemia, but late Epo modulates transcriptomic and inflammatory pathways in non-anemic retinas.</p>

Limitations

Not reported in abstract.

Elsewhere in the Erythropoietin (EPO) corpus