Abstract

The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of erythropoietin on methotrexate induced lung injury in rats. Twenty-one female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups (n=7). Single-dose subcutaneous injections of 0.3 ml serum physiologic was administered to sham group, single-dose 20 mg/kg methotrexate was administered to the control group, and single-dose 20 mg/kg methotrexate and 5000 IU/kg erythropoietin to different areas were administered to the study group. On the 5th day, rats were sacrificed and the right lungs were biochemically and histopathologically evaluated. We determined the malondialdehyde levels which were significantly lower in sham group than those in the control and study groups (both P=0.002) and in the study group, the levels were lower than in the control group, but not statistically significant. Inflammation and congestion scores in the control group were significantly higher than those in the sham group (P=0.02 and P=0.01, respectively). In the study group, scores were lower but not significant than those in the control group. Although, levels of antioxidant and scores were decreased, we could not determine statistically significant protective effects of erythropoietin at dose of 5000 IU/kg, on methotrexate induced lung injury of rat.

Key words: Methotrexate, erythropoietin, antioxidant, lung injury.