[Effect of tiaoxin recipe on beta-amyloid induced neurotoxic model of the primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of Tiaoxin Recipe (TXR) on beta-amyloid induced neurotoxicity in the primary cultured hippocampal neurons and the therapeutical mechanism of it.


METHODS
In order to establish neurotoxic model, the primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons were treated with 25 mumol/L aggregated beta-amyloid fragment 1-42 (A beta 1-42). Neuronal survival was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity. Apoptosis of neurons was determined with transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination and flowcytometric analysis. The protein expression of apoptosis-associated gene (Bcl-2, Bax, c-Jun) were examined by using immunocytochemical SABC method.


RESULTS
In the A beta 1-42 treated neurons, the release of LDH was increased, TEM examination revealed that the cell body became shrunken, the chromatin was compacted or the patches of condensed chromatin lay against the nuclear membrane and the smooth surfaced endoplasmic reticulum was expanded. Flowcytometric analysis displayed the peak of hypodiploid DNA content. The expression of Bcl-2 was lowered, while Bax and c-Jun protein were increased. After treated with TXR, the above-mentioned changes were improved with the exception of c-Jun expression. In the Tacrine treated group, only the neuronal survival was increased, other observed criteria had insignificant change.


CONCLUSIONS
TXR could attenuate the neurotoxic action of A beta 1-42 and improve neuronal survival via suppressing apoptotic process. TXR could inhibit the apoptotic process via regulating the expression of bcl-2 and bax. Tacrine could improve neuronal survival, but its inhibition on neuronal apoptosis was not significant.
Yao
M Z
MZ
Institute of Geriatrics, Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200032.
Zhao
W K
WK
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42)