Erythropoietin and the use of a transgenic model of erythropoietin-deficient mice.

Despite its well-known role in red blood cell production, it is now accepted that erythropoietin (Epo) has other physiological functions. Epo and its receptors are expressed in many tissues, such as the brain and heart. The presence of Epo/Epo receptors in these organs suggests other roles than those usually assigned to this protein.

Catalyzing role of erythropoietin on the nitric oxide central pathway during the ventilatory responses to hypoxia.

The N-Methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA) receptors - neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) pathway is involved in the ventilatory response to hypoxia. The objective was to assess the possible effect of erythropoietin deficiency and chronic exposure to hypoxia on this pathway during ventilatory response to acute hypoxia. Wild-type (WT) and erythropoietin-deficient (Epo-TAg(h)) male mice were exposed (14 days) either to hypobaric hypoxia (Pb = 435 mmHg) or to normoxia.

Oxygen modulates the glutathione peroxidase activity during the L6 myoblast early differentiation process.

Aim: This work aims to study the regulation of the glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities in myoblasts from the L6 line exposed to 21%, 5% and 1% O2 during the cell differentiation.

Material And Methods: Rat L6 myoblasts were grown in 1%, 5% or 21% O2 in the presence or absence of N-acetyl cysteine. The cell proliferation was evaluated by determining the doubling time and kinetics of cultures by counting cells.

Epo deficiency alters cardiac adaptation to chronic hypoxia.

The involvement of erythropoietin in cardiac adaptation to acute and chronic (CHx) hypoxia was investigated in erythropoietin deficient transgenic (Epo-TAg(h)) and wild-type (WT) mice. Left (LV) and right ventricular functions were assessed by echocardiography and hemodynamics. HIF-1α, VEGF and Epo pathways were explored through RT-PCR, ELISA, Western blot and immunocytochemistry.

Acetazolamide and chronic hypoxia: effects on haemorheology and pulmonary haemodynamics.

We tested the effect of acetazolamide on blood mechanical properties and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) during chronic hypoxia. Six groups of rats were either treated or not treated with acetazolamide (curative: treated after 10 days of hypoxic exposure; preventive: treated before hypoxic exposure with 40 mg · kg(-1) · day(-1)) and either exposed or not exposed to 3 weeks of hypoxia (at altitude >5,500 m). They were then used to assess the role of acetazolamide on pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac output, blood volume, haematological and haemorheological parameters.