The present work was done to study the trophic effect of human recombinant
erythropoietin on the developing small bowel in neonatal rats. This study was carried
out on 24 neonatal rats aged 4-5 days, weighing 40-60gm, and divided into 4 groups
each containing 6 neonatal rats: Groups (1): was the control, group (2):
administrated enteral human recombinant erythropoietin(Epo) through intragastric
tube in a dose of 200 u/kg/day for one week, group (3): administrated enteral human
recombinant Epo in a dose of 1000 u/kg/day through intragastric tube for one week,
and group (4): administrated human recombinant Epo parenterally in a dose of
200u/kg/day for one week. At the end of the experiment, neonatal rats were weighed
and blood was collected by cardiac puncture, sacrificed , dissected and small
intestine was excised, length was measured and fixed in paraffin for histological
examination. The results showed that administration of enteral recombinant Epo in
dose of 200 and 1000 u/kg/day for a week caused significant increase in body weight
and small bowel length , and non significant effect on haematocrit value or plasma
erythropoietin concentration. The parenteral administration of Epo showed,
significant increase in body weight, haematocrit value, plasma erythropoietin
concentration and small bowel length. Histological examination showed, increased
surface area of intestinal mucosa and increased length of the ilial villi.. It is
concluded that, parenteral administration of human recombinant Epo has
haematopoietic and trophic effects on the small bowel. Enteral administration of
human recombinant Epo has a local trophic effect on small bowel, which is useful in
treatment of infants suffering from defective absorption due to short bowel syndrome.