title: [Roles of cytochrome c, caspase-9, and caspase-3 in pentavalent vanadium-induced neuronal apoptosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the roles of cytochrome c (Cyt-c), caspase-9, and caspase-3 in pentavalent vanadium-induced neuronal apoptosis and to provide a basis for mechanism research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neurons from rats aged 1-3 days were cultured and treated with vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) at 5, 10, or 20 mmol/L. Neuronal apoptosis was detected by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). The protein levels of Cyt-c, caspase-9, and caspase-3 were determined by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Apoptosis bodies were detected in the nuclei of neurons by TUNEL. The number of neurons with apoptosis bodies increased with increasing dose of V2O5 The apoptosis index (AI) was significantly higher in the 10 and 20 mm/L exposure groups than in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Western blot showed that the protein expression levels of Cyt-c and caspase-3 significantly increased in the 5 mmol/L exposure group as compared with the control group (P < 0.05). In the 10 and 20 mmol/L exposure groups, the protein expression of Cyt-c, caspase-9, and caspase-3 all increased as compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Neuronal AI was positively correlated with Cyt-c, caspase-9, and caspase-3 (r = 0.954, P < 0.01; r = 0.938, P < 0.01; r = 0.943, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pentavalent vanadium may induce neuronal apoptosis. The protein expression of Cyt-c, caspase-9, and caspase-3 may play an important role in neuronal apoptosis induced by pentavalent vanadium.
authors.affiliation: Center for Disease Control And Prevention of Shanxi Tai Gang Taiyuan 030003, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jingxia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D014639:Vanadium / Q000633:toxicity*; D017968:Vanadium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D017968:Vanadium Compounds; D014639:Vanadium; D045304:Cytochromes c; C066075:vanadium pentoxide; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9