Protective effects of erythropoietin on astrocytic swelling after oxygen-glucose deprivation and reoxygenation: Mediation through AQP4 expression and MAPK pathway

► EPO blocks OGD/Reox-induced astrocyte swelling and AQP4 abundance in cytomembrane. ► Up-regulation of PM AQP4 was responsible for the cellular swelling. ► Phosphorylation of MAPK contributes to the AQP4 abundance. ► EPO reduces the over-activation of MAPK after OGD/Reox.