Erythropoietin Ameliorates Damage to the Placenta and Fetal Liver Induced by Exposure to Lipopolysaccharide

Abstract

Intrauterine infection and inflammation have been causally linked to preterm birth and fetal brain injury. Using an ovine model of endotoxin-induced brain injury we have recently shown that recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) reduces brain injury and protects against damage to myelination in major myelinated axon tracts. Our present objective was to determine whether rhEPO is also protective of the placenta and the fetal liver, organs which could influence fetal well-being. At 107 ± 1 days of gestational age (DGA) chronically catheterized fetal sheep were randomly assigned to receive, on 3 consecutive days, either: 1) an i.v. bolus dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; ∼0.9 μg/kg; n = 8); 2)..