Veterinary Research Forum
Vet Res Forum

Effects of erythropoietin on cardiac morphometry in exercised male and female adolescent rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mehmet Burak Ateş 1
Gokhan Akcakavak 2
Ozgur Ozdemir 1
Mehmet Ozdemir 3
Ibrahim Bozkurt 4

1 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selçuk University Konya, Türkiye

2 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aksaray University Aksaray, Türkiye

3 Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, Aydin, Türkiye

4 Department of Physical Education and Sports, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Selçuk University, Konya, Türkiye

https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2024.2035267.4360
Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone predominantly produced in the kidneys, primarily stimulating erythroid cell proliferation in the bone marrow. The present study investigated the impact of EPO combined with swimming exercise on cardiac morphometry in adolescent male and female rats. The 4-week study involved 48 rats (24 males and 24 females), which were divided into four main groups of six males and six females each. The control group was administered intraperitoneal saline four times a week. The swimming exercise group also received intraperitoneal saline, followed by 30 min of swimming exercise, four times a week. The drug control group was given 50.00 IU kg-1 epoetin alfa intraperitoneally, four times a week. Lastly, the Swimming + Drug group received 50.00 IU kg-1 epoetin alfa intraperitoneally, four times a week, followed by 30 min of swimming exercise. The post-study measurements demonstrated that EPO administration did not result in notable alterations in crucial parameters, including the left ventricular mass index, left ventricular mass, and left ventricular posterior wall in the context of left ventricular hypertrophy in both genders. However, in female rats, EPO-only group and the combined EPO and exercise group showed significant thinning of the right ventricular wall and interventricular septum indicating potential cardiac dilatation. The results highlight the necessity of considering gender-specific responses when evaluating EPO's cardiovascular effects, particularly concerning the right ventricle, and suggest further investigation into the long-term consequences of these observed changes.

Keywords

Blood doping
Cardiac functions
Cardiomyopathy
Erythropoietin
Performance enhancer

Subjects

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Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 16, Issue 4
April 2025
Pages 189-194

  • Receive Date 17 July 2024
  • Revise Date 07 September 2024
  • Accept Date 05 October 2024

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