Erythropoietin facilitates resuscitation from ventricular fibrillation by signaling protection of mitochondrial bioenergetic function in rats.

Objective: We previously reported beneficial myocardial effects during chest compression after administration of high-dose erythropoietin. We hypothesized that erythropoietin also elicits post-resuscitation myocardial benefits partly linked to protection of mitochondrial bioenergetic function.

Methods: Two series of 10 rats each underwent ventricular fibrillation for 10 minutes (series-1) and 8 minutes (series-2) and were randomized to erythropoietin (5,000 U/kg) or 0.