The Impact of High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity on Erythropoietin (EPO) level in Rat Model

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

2 Research Center of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

3 Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

4 Immuno-Regulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

5 Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran; Immunoregulation Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran

10.30476/ijns.2026.107886.1532

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a multifactorial disease that is associated with various metabolic syndromes. Erythropoietin (EPO), traditionally recognized for its role in red blood cell production, has been identified as a pleiotropic hormone with diverse physiological functions. The aim of this study was to investigate how high-fat diet obesity in rat model influenced the level of EPO in both serum and brain tissues.
Methods: Twenty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups and weighed. The control group received a standard diet, while the experimental group was fed a high-fat diet (2.5% olive oil, 1% cholesterol, and 1% cholic acid as meals to the special rodent diet) for 30 days. Blood and brain tissue samples were collected at the end of the study. EPO level in serum and brain homogenates were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: The obese group showed significant weight gain compared to control. Serum EPO level in obese rats was significantly lower than the control group. In contrast, brain EPO level was higher in obese group than in the control group, though it was not significant. Furthermore, in the obese group, brain EPO concentration was significantly higher than the serum EPO level, while in control, brain EPO was lower than serum EPO, but without significant difference.
Conclusion: Our findings have important implications for understanding the dual role of EPO in peripheral and central metabolic regulation during obesity. Enhancing brain EPO signaling or increasing systemic EPO to appropriate levels might offer new therapeutic for obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Highlights

Maryam Mitra Elmi (Google Scholar)

Keywords

References

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