Erythropoietin improves glucose metabolism and pancreatic β-cell damage in experimental diabetic rats

  • Authors:
    • Li‑Na Chen
    • Qiang Sun
    • Shu‑Qing Liu
    • Hao Hu
    • Juan Lv
    • Wen‑Jun Ji
    • Meng Wang
    • Ming‑Xia Chen
    • Jun Zhou
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 29, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.4006
  • Pages: 5391-5398
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Abstract

Previous studies have implicated erythropoietin (EPO) signaling in the regulation of glucose metabolism. Whether EPO can be used treat diabetes and the underlying mechanism remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate whether EPO affects glucose metabolism, and the underlying mechanisms, in experimental diabetic rats. The effects of EPO (300 U/kg three times a week for 4 weeks) on glucose metabolism, hematopoietic function, blood selenium content and the ultrastructure of pancreatic β‑cells were investigated in low dose (25 mg/kg body weight) streptozotocin‑induced experimental diabetic rats provided with a high‑fat diet. The results demonstrated that EPO significantly decreased the fasting blood glucose, the area under the curve of the oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance tests and L‑alanine gluconeogenesis. Ultrastructural examination of the pancreatic islets revealed that EPO prevented the dysfunction of pancreatic β‑cells in experimental diabetic rats, ameliorated cytoplasmic vacuolation and fragmentation of mitochondria, and increased the number of secretory granules. EPO administration increased the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, and decreased the level of malondialdehyde. Additionally, EPO increased blood selenium in the diabetic rats and produced a hematopoietic effect. These results indicated that EPO modulated glucose metabolism and improved pancreatic β‑cells damage by increasing anti‑oxidation. The detailed mechanisms underlying these effects require further investigation.
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October-2015
Volume 12 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Chen LN, Sun Q, Liu SQ, Hu H, Lv J, Ji WJ, Wang M, Chen MX and Zhou J: Erythropoietin improves glucose metabolism and pancreatic β-cell damage in experimental diabetic rats. Mol Med Rep 12: 5391-5398, 2015.
APA
Chen, L., Sun, Q., Liu, S., Hu, H., Lv, J., Ji, W. ... Zhou, J. (2015). Erythropoietin improves glucose metabolism and pancreatic β-cell damage in experimental diabetic rats. Molecular Medicine Reports, 12, 5391-5398. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.4006
MLA
Chen, L., Sun, Q., Liu, S., Hu, H., Lv, J., Ji, W., Wang, M., Chen, M., Zhou, J."Erythropoietin improves glucose metabolism and pancreatic β-cell damage in experimental diabetic rats". Molecular Medicine Reports 12.4 (2015): 5391-5398.
Chicago
Chen, L., Sun, Q., Liu, S., Hu, H., Lv, J., Ji, W., Wang, M., Chen, M., Zhou, J."Erythropoietin improves glucose metabolism and pancreatic β-cell damage in experimental diabetic rats". Molecular Medicine Reports 12, no. 4 (2015): 5391-5398. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2015.4006