title: Catechin attenuates 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced cell death in primary cultures of mesencephalic cells.
abstract: Past studies have shown the protective effects of tea catechins on oxidative cell damage induced by 6-OHDA in PC12 cells. In this study we verified whether or not catechin prevents 6-OHDA-induced oxidative cell damage in primary cultures of rat mesencephalic cells. On exposure to 6-OHDA (200 microM), the cultures showed a marked decrease in cell viability, disturbances in lipid peroxidation, and an increased generation of NO, as assayed by MTT, TBARS and nitrite assays, respectively. Introduction of catechin significantly attenuated the cell death caused by 6-OHDA at concentrations of 3.4, 34 and 340 microM in a dose-related manner. Catechin produced no marked changes on 6-OHDA-induced increases in NO, but caused a significant inhibition of lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that catechins offer similar cytoprotection against 6-OHDA-induced oxidative cell damage in mesencephalic cell cultures, as previously described in PC12 cells. The cytoprotective function of catechin results from its antioxidant property and is not due to the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase. These findings further support and substantiate traditional consumption of catechin rich green/black tea as protection against neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinsonism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara, POB-3157, 60430-270, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: H V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Nobre Júnior
authors.forename: G M A
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.forename: V S N
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002392:Catechin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D016627:Oxidopamine; D002392:Catechin