Effects of exercise and nutrition administration on epo gene expression in rat kidney and liver

Introduction

Previous studies have shown that recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) caused symptomatic mitigation of anemia and sports anemia (Stein, 2003; Brimble, et al., 2003; Remacha,et al.,1994 ). Kidney and liver are the two main organs of EPO production (Jelkman et al., 1988; Tan et al., 1991). This study was carried out to investigate the possible role of exercise and nutrition administration in the EPO gene expression in rat kidney and liver.

Methods

30 male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups: sedentary (S; n=10), exercise (E; n=10) and exercise + nutrition (EN; n=10). Animals in the E and EN groups started treadmill running at 30 m/min, 0% grade, 1 min/time. Running time was gradually increased with 2 min/time during initial 5 weeks and final 4 weeks. In addition, running frequency was 2 times/day except initial 2 weeks. Compound dosages of anti-sports anemia was administrated to rats in the EN groups for the same period. At the end of eleventh week, gene expression of EPO was quantified, relative to β-actin, by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), and EPO concentration was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results

Eleven weeks of exercise increased EPO gene expression of kidney. Meanwhile, the exercise + nutrition did not induce significant change in EPO gene expression and protein level of kidney. And the exercise did not induce significant change in EPO gene expression and protein level of kidney. Otherwise, the exercise + nutrition decreased EPO gene expression and increased protein level of liver.

Discussion/Conclusions

It is suggested that the pathogenesis of sports anemia in rats maybe not involves EPO production in kidney and liver. However, the compound dosages of anti-sports anemia maybe perform some function in prevention and treatment of sports anemia from liver EPO production. In addition, the changes in mRNA level did not parallel the changes in the EPO protein level, it would seem probable that there is posttranscriptional regulation of EPO production by some different mechanisms.

References

• Stein RS..(2003). Clin Lymphoma.4 Suppl 1:S36-40.
• Brimble KS, Rabbat CG, McKenna P, et al. (2003). J Am Soc Nephrol. 14(10):2654-2661.
• Remacha AF, Ordonez J, Barcelo MJ, et al. (1994). Haematologica. 79(4):350-352.
• Jelkmann W, Marienhoff N, Giesselmann S, et al. (1988). Blut. 57:317-321.
• Tan CC, Eckardt KU, Ratcliffe PJ. (1991). Int S Med. 10: 181-197.