Erythropoietin protects polychlorinated biphenyl (Aroclor 1254) induced neurotoxicity in mice

Erythropoietin is a hematopoietic cytokine factor with various biological effects and its receptors are expressed in the central nervous system, which helps in normal brain development and exerts neuroprotection in different models of brain injury. The present study was designed to evaluate the neuroprotective role of erythropoietin in Aroclor 1254 induced oxidative stress in mice. Neurotoxicity was induced by Aroclor 1254 (10 mg/kg bw/day). Erythropoietin was administered simultaneously with Aroclor 1254 for 14 days in co-treatment groups and administered before induction of neurotoxicity for 7 days in case of pretreatment groups. To assess the behavioural parameters in observation with learning and memory, open field and Y-maze were employed. Acetylcholinesterase, glutamate, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase) were estimated in brain tissue and corticosterone in plasma to evaluate the intensity of oxidative signalling in brain. Triglycerides and total cholesterol were estimated in plasma. Both doses of erythropoietin (500 and 1000 IU/kg) pretreatment and co-treatment, (i) significantly increased the habituation memory and percentage alteration which are indicative of the cognitive improvement, (ii) attenuated the Aroclor 1254 induced rise in acetylcholinesterase activity, corticosterone, triglycerides and total cholesterol, (iii) increased the glutamate and antioxidant enzyme levels. These results indicate that erythropoietin protects against Aroclor 1254 induced neurotoxicity and improves the cognitive function and that this cytokine could be a promising therapeutic agent for stress induced neurodegeneration.