AIM: To observe the influence of recombinant human erythropoietin(rhEPO)on cultured retinal ganglion cells(RGCs)survival and axonal regeneration of rats, detect the expression of growth associated protein 43(GAP-43), and to investigate the possible effective mechanism.

METHODS:RGCs were cultured in DMEM(control group)or DMEM containing rhEPO(rhEPO group)for 72 hours. Cell morphology and axonal growth were observed under phase-contrast microscope. The length of the longest processes of RGCS were measured and compared between two groups. The GAP-43 expression was detected by Western blot and the gray value scales of GAP-43 were measured by imaging analysis system. All results were compared using t test.

RESULTS:The RGCs were observed to extend processes under microscope after culturing for 72 hours. The cells in rhEPO group were bigger and the processes were longer compared to the control group(P<0.05). The expression of GAP-43 in vitro was detected by Western blot. The expression of GAP-43 in rhEPO group was higher than that in control group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: rhEPO can promote the axonal growth of cultured RGCs in vitro. rhEPO can also increase the expression of GAP-43 in cultured RGCs, which may result in the promotion of rhEPO on the axonal growth of RGCs.