Administration of EPO activated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Activation of p85 was assessed by measuring the levels of p-p85, while p-Akt was employed for evaluating Akt activation. (A) Representative western blot analysis showing the results for p85 and p-p85 (B) Quantitative analysis of p-p85 expression in all the treatment groups. (C) Representative western blot analysis showing the results for Akt. (D) Quantitative analysis of Akt activity in all the treatment groups. The relative activities for p85 and Akt were assessed by a ratio between the phosphorylated form and total form. Six rats were included in each study group. *P<0.05 and ***P<0.001, IRI-SAL vs. Sham; ###P<0.001 and #P<0.05, IRI-SAL vs. IRI-EPO. EPO, erythropoietin; IRI, ischemia-reperfusion injury; PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase; Akt, protein kinase B; p-p85, phosphorylated p85; p-Akt, phosphorylated Akt.