Nerve growth factor protects R2 cells against neurotoxicity induced by methamphetamine.
It is well known that methamphetamine is a neurotoxic drug of abuse to cause cell death both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the protective effect of nerve growth factor on methamphetamine-induced neurotoxicity was examined in R2 cells. Treatment of R2 cells with methamphetamine for 48 h induced apoptotic-like death as determined by cell viability assay, DNA fragmentation on agarose gel and flow cytometric analysis. Co-treatment of R2 cells with nerve growth factor (10-1000 U/ml) in the presence of methamphetamine increased cell viability, decreased the intensity of methamphetamine-induced DNA fragmentation and reduced the number of apoptotic cells with flow cytometry. These results indicate that nerve growth factor may be useful for the treatment of methamphetamine users.
Zhou
Jun-Lan
JL
Department of Neuropharmacology, National Institute on Drug Dependence, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, PR China.
Liang
Jian-Hui
JH
Zheng
Ji-Wang
JW
Li
Chang-Ling
CL
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008694:Methamphetamine; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor