The effect of erythropoietin on microcirculation perfusion and tissue bioenergetics of the small intestine in a hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation rat model.

Background: Erythropoietin (EPO) can exert acute hemodynamic and anti-inflammatory effects in addition to erythropoiesis. We tested the hypothesis that EPO given at resuscitation with saline will improve capillary perfusion and tissue oxygenation in the gut using a hemorrhagic shock model.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were bled 30 mL/kg to maintain a mean arterial blood pressure of 40 mm Hg for 50 minutes and then randomized to one of four resuscitation groups (n = 6 per group): blood, blood + recombinant human EPO (rHuEPO), saline, and saline + rHuEPO. Intravenous rHuEPO (1,000 U/kg) was given at the start of resuscitation. Intravital microscopy was used to measure perfused capillary density, flow motion of red blood cell (RBC), and tissue NADH fluorescence 60 minutes after resuscitation. Venous oxygenation saturation (Svo2) was also measured in a second experiment.

Results: In the blood +/- rHuEPO resuscitation group, the perfused capillary density, RBC flow motion scores, and NADH fluorescence returned to near normal values. The saline + rHuEPO group compared with the saline group demonstrated an increased RBC flow motion score (2.32 vs. 1.60; p < 0.01); however, the perfused capillary density was not significantly increased (23.03 Cap/mm vs. 21.61 Cap/mm; p = 0.40). The saline + rHuEPO group also demonstrated statistically significant lower NADH fluorescence than the saline group after shock following resuscitation (110% +/- 3.64% vs. 122% +/- 4.26%; p < 0.05) suggesting decreased tissue dysoxia. The Svo2 in the saline + rHuEPO group was higher when compared with the saline group (45% vs. 38% by continuous oximetry; 38% vs. 29% by co-oximetry; p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the addition of rHuEPO at the time of saline resuscitation may have beneficial effects in hemorrhagic shock by improving tissue perfusion and decreasing dysoxia in the gut.