Antioxidant Effect of Erythropoietin during Experimental Chronic Renal Failure

The effects of erythropoietin (Epokrin, 900 U/kg) on the parameters of free radical oxidation in the plasma and lymphocytes of peripheral blood were studied in rats with chronic renal failure. We observed accumulation of primary (diene conjugates) and secondary (ketodienes, and conjugated trienes) LPO products in the heptane and isopropanol fractions of blood plasma and a decrease in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in blood plasma. In lymphocytes, the concentration of primary, secondary and end-products (Schiff bases) of LPO increased in the isopropanol fraction of lipid extract. Treatment with erythropoietin was followed by a decrease in the level of primary and end-products of LPO in the isopropanol fraction of lipid extract of the plasma and lymphocytes and an increase in of superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the plasma. The content of primary LPO products in the isopropanol fraction of the plasma progressively decreased with increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in the plasma.