title: Herbal formula SYJN protect PC12 cells from neurotoxicity induced by corticosterone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  SYJN is a Chinese herbal formula, containing four herbs: Bupleurum chinense DC., Curcuma aromatica Salisb., Perilla frutescens (Linn.) Britt. and Acorus tatarinowii Schott. Previous studies on the formula in our laboratory revealed an antidepressant-like effect on animal models of behavioral despair. However,the mechanisms underlying such antidepressant-like effect are yet to be understood. The aim of this work was to verify the previously established antidepressant-like effects on cell level using corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells to see if SYJN possesses any neuroprotective properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  PC12 cells were treated with 200 microM corticosterone in the absence or the presence of various concentrations of SYJN for 48 h. Then, cell viability, apoptosis, intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i) concentration and caspase-3 activity were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following the exposure of PC12 cells to 200 microM corticosterone for 48 h, there were reductions in cell survival rate but increases in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. In parallel, corticosterone caused significant elevations in DNA fragmentation, [Ca(2+)]i concentration and caspase-3 activity. However, when the PC12 cells were incubated with SYJN at different concentrations (10, 50 and 100mg/L) in the presence of 200 microM corticosterone for 48 h, the above effects were evidently alleviated in a dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SYJN could generate a neuroprotective effect on corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells, suggesting a possible action pathway of SYJN in vivo by decreasing the [Ca(2+)]i concentration and caspase-3 activity.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medicine University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China. zhen626@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qing-Qiu
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Xiao-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Chun-Rong
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ai-Juan
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Zhao-Yi
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000633:toxicity*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C545641:SYJN herbal formula; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D053148:Caspase 3; D002118:Calcium; D003345:Corticosterone