Objective:

In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of erythropoietin alpha on the number of circulating mature endothelial cells (MEC) and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in an experimental model.

Methods:

Twenty-four male wistar albino rats were used for the study. Rats were divided into two groups, 12 of each. Group 1 received vehicle only (0,5 cc serum physiologic/twice a week by intraperitoneal injection for 60 days), while intraperitoneal erythropoietin enjection (1000unit/kg/twice a week week) was administered to group 2. At the end of the study period rats were sacrified and circulating cell populations were measured by flow-cytometric analysis. Mann-Whitney U test and analysis of variance were used for statistical purposes.

Results:

At the end of the study erythropetin treatment resulted with higher haemoglobin levels as expected. The body weights at the end of the study were also significantly higher in erythropoietin group. Circulating MEC numbers were significantly decreased with erythropoietin administration while circulating EPC s were significantly increased compared to control group.

Conclusion:

The study showed that treatment with erythropoietin alpha is associated with an increase in EPC number. These findings may suggest that erythropoietin alpha mediated increase in EPC number could be associated in part with the beneficial effects observed in treated patients, irrespective of the rise in hemoglobin levels.

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