Effect of erythropoietin nano-capsules on anxiety caused by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the anxiety disorders. PTSD causes changes in the expression of the genes of the Bcl2 family in hippocampus and, as a result, causes apoptosis. Erythropoietin, as a neuroprotective agent, can prevent neuronal death in brain damage. But this protein has no ability to across the blood-brain barrier. The aim of this study was to evaluate antiapoptotic effects of erythropoietin nano-capsules in PTSD and compare it with erythropoietin.

PTSD was induced in male Wistar rats using the long-term single stress model (Single-prolonged stress). Immediately after induction, the animals received erythropoietin Nano-capsules and erythropoietin at a dose of 5000 IU/kg intraperitoneally 1 and 3 times/day, respectively. One week later, the animals underwent behavioral testing, hippocampal cell counts, and measuring Bcl2 and bax gene expression levels.

Erythropoietin Nano-capsules and erythropoietin significantly reduced the anxiety and fear compared to the PTSD group. Furthermore, drug therapy increased number of hippocampal cells, which were decreased by PTSD. PTSD decreased Bcl2 and increased bax hippocampal expression. However, these changes were reversed by drug treatment and reach the control level.

Both erythropoietin and erythropoietin Nano-capsules show anxiolytic anti-apoptotic effect in rat model of PTSD. Erythropoietin Nano-capsules showed these effects by lower doses than erythropoietin.