The subchronic intranasal administration of NeuroEPO improves motor recovery, the REDOX environment, and decreases depression-like behavior following severe traumatic brain injury in male rats
Abstract number :
2.468
Submission category :
3. Neurophysiology / 3F. Animal Studies
Year :
2025
Submission ID :
1380
Source :
www.aesnet.org
Presentation date :
12/7/2025 12:00:00 AM
Published date :
Authors :
Presenting Author: Maria de los Angeles Nuñez Lumbreras, PhD – Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV)Cinvestav
Félix Iván López-Preza, MSc – Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV)
Iliana Sosa-Teste, PhD – Center for the Production of Laboratory Animals (CENPALAB)
Alonso Fernández-Guasti, PhD – Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV)
Teresita Rodríguez-Obaya, PhD – Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM)
Luisa Rocha, PhD – Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV)
Rationale: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes persistent neurological deficits and represents a significant public health challenge. Despite advances, current treatments do not effectively prevent long-term sequelae such as neurodegeneration and mood disorders. NeuroEPO, a modified form of erythropoietin with low sialic acid content, has demonstrated neuroprotective properties in preclinical and clinical studies.
Methods: In this study, the effect of intranasal administration of NeuroEPO (0.136 mg/kg), applied 3 hours after TBI and repeated every 8 hours for four consecutive days, was evaluated in male rats subjected to severe TBI using the lateral fluid percussion model. Behavioral and biochemical assessments were conducted over 31 days.
Results: Rats in the TBI+vehicle group showed significant sensorimotor deficits (Neuroscore -28.87%, p< 0.0009; beam crossing test -42.6%, p< 0.0001 vs. Sham+vehicle), depression-like behavior (increased immobility time: 12.3 ± 1.98 counts, p=0.0009 vs. baseline), elevated levels of malondialdehyde (a marker of oxidative stress), and decreased catalase activity (a marker of antioxidant effect). In contrast, rats in the TBI+NeuroEPO group showed a significant recovery of motor performance (Neuroscore, p=0.020; beam crossing, p=0.001 vs. TBI+vehicle), no depression-like behavior (p=0.998 vs. Sham+vehicle), and biochemical profiles similar to controls. There were no differences between the Sham groups treated with NeuroEPO or vehicle, indicating treatment specificity.
Neurophysiology