Erythropoietin protects the developing retina in an ovine model of endotoxin-induced retinal injury

Abstract

PURPOSE. Intrauterine infection is a common antecedent of preterm birth. Infants born very preterm are at increased risk for neurologic dysfunction, including visual deficits. With increasing survival of very preterm infants, there is a need for therapies that prevent adverse neurologic outcomes. Using an ovine model, the authors investigated the neuroprotective potential of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on retinal injury induced by intrauterine inflammation. METHODS. At 107 ± 1 days of gestational age (DGA), chronically catheterized fetal sheep received either of the following on 3 consecutive days: intravenous (IV) bolus dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS; ~0.9 μg/kg; n = 8); IV bo..