Erythropoietin (Epo) and its receptor (EpoR), critical for erythropoiesis, are expressed in the
nervous system. Prior to death in utero because of severe anemia EpoR-null mice have
fewer neural progenitor cells, and differentiated neurons are markedly sensitive to hypoxia,
suggesting that during development Epo stimulates neural cell proliferation and prevents
neuron apoptosis by promoting oxygen delivery to brain or by direct interaction with neural
cells. Here we present evidence that neural progenitor cells express EpoR at higher levels …