Figure 3

Neuroprotective effect of rhEPO. rhEPO reduced cell death after repetitive formalin injections in the cortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus after repetitive formalin injections. A - D: Quantifications of the number of fluoro-Jade C positive neurons in the cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus 4 (A) and 12 hrs (B) after a single injection or after 3 injections at P6 (C) and P21 (D). E: Quantification of TUNEL-positive cells in the cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus after 3 injection sessions (n = 6 in each group). *. p < 0.05 compared to saline group; #. p < 0.05 compared to formalin group. F: Western blot analysis of somatosensory cortex proteins from saline, formalin or formalin plus rhEPO groups. Cleaved caspase-3 was measured in total lysates and Apoptosis Inducing Factor (AIF) was inspected in the cytosolic extracts 72 hrs after 3 injections sessions. β-actin was used as the loading control. N = 4 for caspase-3 and n = 6 for AIF. *. p < 0.05 compared to saline group; #. p < 0.05 compared to formalin group.