156 The Influence of Erythropoietin and Hypothermia on the Damaged Kidneys of Rats with Perinatal Asphyxia

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this research was to determine the effects of erythropoietin, hypothermia and a combination thereof on the damaged kidneys of rats with perinatal asphyxia.Methods: Experimental animal population encompassed female and newborn Wistar rats. Perinatal asphyxia was induced by immersing the uterus containing foetuses into the water (38°C). The uterus was removed from the female rats by caesarean section, on the last day of gestation. The period of asphyxia until delivery of newborn rats has continued for 15 minutes. After birth, the newborn rats were distributed into four groups of 15 animals: G1 - asphyxia; G2 - asphyxia + erythropoietin (2,5μg, intraperitoneally) + hypothermia (rectal temperature 32°C); G3 - asphyxia + hypothermia (rectal temperature 32°C); G4 - asphyxia + erythropoietin (2,5μg, intraperitoneally). The rats were sacrificed on day 7 of life and histo-pathological evaluation of kidney preparations was performed.Results: The results revealed that damage of proximal tubules was significantly higher then that of the distal tubules (p< 0.01). Statistically significant differences were established with respect to damage of proximal tubules in group G1, which were significantly higher as compared to the group G2, as well as to groups G3 and group G4 (p< 0.01). The zone of immature glomeruli in group G4 was significantly wider then that of the groups G1, G2 and G3 (p< 0.01).Conclusions: Erythropoietin and hypothermia, as well as the combination thereof have a protective effect on rat kidney damaged during perinatal asphyxia. Moreover, erythropoietin also enhances maturation of immature kidney glomeruli.