EFFECTS OF RECOMBINANT HUMAN ERYTHROPOIETIN ON HEMATOLOGICALPARAMETERS IN NEWBORN, YOUNG AND ADULT RATS

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) is a glycoprotein hormone that stimulates erythropoiesis. This study was designed to investigate the effects of rHuEpo on red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrite (Hc), reticulocytes and creatinine in newborn, young, and adult rats. Three doses of rHuEpo (50, 100 and 200 IU/kg) were administrated to animals via subcutaneous injections, twice a week for a period of six weeks. RBCs were counted using H1 autoanalyser. Hb, Hc, reticulocytes and creatinine contents of the blood samples were determined. The data was analysed using one-way ANOVA, Tukey test and paired samples. There werea dose dependent increases in RBCs (2-12%), Hb (7-53%), Hc (5-49.6%) and creatinine (11-14%). However, reticulocytes showed a dose dependent decrease down to 2.1-6.3%. The maximum and minimum changes were observed in newborn and young rats. The results suggest that rHuEpo may affect hematopoietic stem cells and modify other progenitor cells to erythroid progenitors. Subsequently, reticulocytes were differentiated to RBCs. The kidney performance to excrete creatinine, was also reduced under the influence of rHuEpo.