[Possible mechanism of the protective effects of ginsenoside Rg1 on apoptosis in PC12 cells].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the possible mechanism of the protective effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on dopamine-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells.


METHODS
Flow cytometric assay was performed to quantify the apoptotic cells and detect the positive percentage of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in PC12 cells. The expression of bcl-2 and bax mRNA was identified by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The CPP32 activity was measured by fluorescent spectrofluorometer.


RESULTS
Dopamine-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells was inhibited by pretreatment with 10 mumol.L-1 Rg1. Simultaneously, the expression of Bcl-2 protein and mRNA were increased, and the Bax protein and mRNA were decreased. The activation of CPP32 was inhibited after pretreatment with Rg1.


CONCLUSIONS
Rg1 protects against dopamine-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells and this effect might be attributed to its regulation of the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax and its inhibition of the activation of CPP32.
Chen
X C
XC
Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Institute of Geriatrics, Fuzhou 350001, China.
Zhu
Y G
YG
Wang
X Z
XZ
Zhu
L A
LA
Huang
C
C
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
C494828:Bax protein, rat; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D036145:Ginsenosides; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C505410:Casp3 protein, rat; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1