The effects of erythropoietin dose titration during high-fat diet-induced obesity

J Biomed Biotechnol. 2011:2011:373781. doi: 10.1155/2011/373781. Epub 2011 Apr 20.

Abstract

Erythropoietin (Epo) is a pleotropic cytokine with several nonhematopoietic tissue effects. High-dose Epo treatment-mediated effects on body weight, fat mass and glucose tolerance have recently been reported, thus extending its pleotropic effects to fat and glucose metabolism. However, the exact dose range of Epo treatment required for such effects remains unidentified to date. We investigated Epo dosage effect (up to 1000 U/kg) on hematocrit, body weight, body composition, glucose metabolism, food intake, and physical activity, during high-fat diet-induced obesity. We report that Epo doses (1000, 600, 300, and 150 U/kg) significantly reduced body weight gain and fat mass, while, only Epo doses of 300 U/kg and higher significantly affected glucose tolerance. None of the tested Epo doses showed any detectable effects on food intake, and only 1000 U/kg dose significantly increased physical activity, suggesting that these parameters may only be partially responsible for the metabolic effects of Epo treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adiposity / drug effects
  • Animals
  • Diet*
  • Dietary Fats
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Epoetin Alfa
  • Erythropoietin / administration & dosage*
  • Erythropoietin / pharmacology
  • Erythropoietin / therapeutic use*
  • Feeding Behavior / drug effects
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Hematocrit
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Obesity / chemically induced
  • Obesity / drug therapy*
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Weight Gain / drug effects

Substances

  • Dietary Fats
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Erythropoietin
  • Epoetin Alfa
  • Glucose