title: [Protective effect of dexmedetomidine against glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells and its mechanism].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the protective effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex) against glutamate-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells and its mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  PC12 cells were treated with varying concentrations of dexmedetomidine 1 h before exposure to a high concentration of glutamate. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and LDH release, MDA content and SOD activity were measured. The level of ROS was tested by DCFH-DA staining and flow cytometry. The level of intracellular Ca2+was detected by Fluo-8 staining and flow cytometry, and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was determined with JC-1 staining and flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within the concentration range of 0.01 to 100 µmol/L, Dex dose-dependently protected PC12 cells against glutamate-induced cytotoxicity. Treatment with 100 µmol/L Dex significantly increased the cell viability to (86.6∓2.2)% of that of the control cells (P<0.01) and decreased LDH release to 1.4∓0.1 folds of the control level (P<0.01). In PC12 cells exposed to glutamate, Dex pretreatment significantly reduced MDA content (P<0.01), enhanced SOD activity (P<0.01), inhibited ROS overproduction (P<0.01), reduced intracellular Ca2+level (P<0.01) and maintained a stable MMP (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dexmedetomidine can protect PC12 cells against glutamate-induced injury possibly in relation with its anti-oxidative activity, inhibitory effect on intracellular calcium overload and protective effect of the mitochondria.
authors.affiliation: Anesthesia and Operation Center, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing, 100853, China. E-mail: 18813127808@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei-Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chun-Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: DU
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Ze-Guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D002118:Calcium