Huperzine A attenuates apoptosis and mitochondria-dependent caspase-3 in rat cortical neurons.
The neuroprotection of huperzine A against apoptosis was investigated. In cultures of rat primary cortical neurons, neuronal apoptosis was induced by serum deprivation for 24 h, which was accompanied by enhanced caspase-3 activity and the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol from mitochondria. Pretreating the neurons for 2 h with huperzine A (0.1-10 microM) improved neuronal survival. Huperzine A at a concentration of 1 microM significantly attenuated apoptosis by inhibiting the mitochondria-caspase pathway directly and indirectly.
State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 294 Tai-yuan Road, Shanghai 200031, PR China.
Jin
J
Zhou
Xi Can
XC
Tang
D000470:Alkaloids; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000470:Alkaloids; D016895:Culture Media, Serum-Free; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050426:huperzine A; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases