Quinacrine protects neuronal cells against heat-induced injury.
The effects of quinacrine (QA) on heat-induced neuronal injury have been explored, with the intention of understanding the mechanisms of QA protection. Primary cultivated striatum neurons from newborn rats were treated with QA 1h before heat treatment at 43 degrees C which lasted for another 1h, and necrosis and apoptosis were detected by Annexin-V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) double staining. Neuronal apoptosis was determined using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) techniques. Cell membrane fluidity, activity of cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) and the level of arachidonic acid (AA) were also examined. Membrane surface ultrastructure of striatum neurons was investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results showed that heat treatment induced great striatum neurons death, with many dying neurons undergoing necrosis rather than apoptosis. QA alone had little effect on the survival of striatum neurons, while QA pretreatment before heat treatment decreased necrosis. Heat treatment also resulted in decreased membrane fluidity and increased cPLA(2) activity as well as arachidonic acid level; these effects were reversed by QA pretreatment. QA pretreatment also significantly prevented damage to the membrane surface ultrastructure of heat-treated neurons. These results suggest that QA protects striatum neurons against heat-induced neuronal necrosis, and also demonstrate that inhibition of cPLA(2) activity and stabilization of membranes may contribute to protective effect of quinacrine.
Department of Neurobiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China.
Jun-Tao
JT
Gao
Shu-Hong
SH
Liu
You-E
YE
Yan
Yan
Y
Wu
Hai-Tao
HT
Wu
Cheng
C
Xing
Xue-Ming
XM
Ge
Hui
H
Wang
Yong-Qi
YQ
Zhao
Ming
M
Fan
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D009336:Necrosis; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000378:metabolism; D011796:Quinacrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D011796:Quinacrine