[Neuroprotective effects of emodin on primary rat cortical neurons apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide].
OBJECTIVE
To establish a nerve cell injury model by incubating primary rat cortical neurons in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to study the effect of emodin on apoptosis of nerve cells.


METHODS
Cortical neurons were incubated with H2O2 and emodin. The cell viability was measured by MTT and cell injury was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenate (LDH). Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the intracellular level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The morphology of cortical cells were observed by inverted microscope and Hoechst 33258 staining. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by western blot.


RESULTS
The 150 micromol/L H2O2 significantly decreased the viability of cortical cells and increased the level of intracellular ROS compared to control. Hoechest 33258 fluorescent staining showed brightness nucleosomes in apoptosis cells. The injury state was ameliorated by pretreatment of emodin. Moreover,as detected by Western blot analysis, H2O2 down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 and up-regulation the expression of Bax compared to control. The state could be reversed by pretreatment of emodin.


CONCLUSIONS
Emodin can resist the adverse effects of H2O2 on increasing apoptotic rates, and it has the protective function towards nerve cells.
Department of Sports Human Body Science, Xi'an Physical Education University, Xi'an 710068, China. liutaojd@163.com
Tao
T
Liu
Hai-Tao
HT
Hu
Qin-Ru
QR
Sun
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D004642:Emodin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012250:Rheum / Q000737:chemistry
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D004642:Emodin