Effect of repeated hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning on expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha and erythropoietin following spinal ischemia-reperfusion in rats

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect of repeated hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning (HOP) on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1a) and erythropoietin (EPO) following spinal ischemiareperfusion (I/R) in rats. Methods Forty-eight male SD rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 16 each): sham operation group (S group); I/R group and repeated HOP group (HOP group). The animals in HOP group were pretreated with O2 ( ＞ 98 % ) at 2.5 ATA I h/d for 5 consecutive days at 24 h before spinal cord I/R. The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal pentobarbital sodium 35 mg/kg. Spinal cord ischemia was produced by cross-clamping of abdominal aorta distal to renal artery for 20 min in I/R and HOP groups. Hind-limb motor function was assessed and scored st 48 h of reperfusion. The animals were then sacrificed and the L5-7 segment of the spinal cord was removed for determination of the expression of HIF-1 α and EPO mRNA and protein and microscopic examination. Results Compared with group S, the hind-limb motor function scores and the number of normal motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord were significantly decreased, and the expression of HIF-1α and EPO mRNA and protein was up-regulated in I/R and HOP groups ( P ＜ 0.05). Compared with group I/R, the hind-limb motor function scores and the number of normal motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord were significantly increased, and the expression of HIF-1α and EPO mRNA and protein was up-regulated in group HOP ( P ＜ 0.05). The spinal cord injury was attenuated in group HOP compared with group I/R. Conclusion Repeated HOP can reduce the spinal cord I/R injury though up-regulating the expression of HIF1α and EPO in rats. Key words: Hyperbaric oxygenation; Ischemic preconditioning; Hypoxia-inducible factor 1, alpha subunit; Erythropoietin; Reperfusion injury; Spinal cord