Hengemihle J M, Abugo O, Rifkind J, Spangler E, Danon D, Ingram D K
Molecular Physiology and Genetics Section, Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Physiol Behav. 1996 Jan;59(1):153-6. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(95)02046-2.
Erythropoietin is a glycoprotein produced endogenously in the kidney, which stimulates red blood cell production. We evaluated the effects of chronic treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin alfa: EPO) on the performance of 6-month-old male C57BL/6J mice in a spatial learning task, the Morris water maze. Mice were treated with either EPO (1.5 U injected SC every other day) or vehicle (PBS also injected SC every other day). Results indicated that the treatment had no effect on maze performance after 8 weeks, but after 19 weeks the EPO-treated mice showed better performance compared to controls as measured by mean distance (centimeters) to reach the goal platform. The improved performance in EPO-treated mice at 19 weeks was accompanied by an increased hematocrit. After 32 wk of EPO-treatment, the hematocrit returned to baseline levels even though the size and density of the red blood cells were increased.
