ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role of phospholipase C-gamma1 (PLC-gamma1) signaling pathway in H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PC12 cells were exposed to 50 micromol/L H(2)O(2) after pretreatment with 10 micromol/L U73122, a specific PLC-gamma1 inhibitor. Hoechst/PI double staining was performed to observe the morphological changes of the cells under light microscope. MTT assay was used to evaluate the cell viability, and the percentage of apoptotic cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. DNA fragmentation assay was carried out to characterize the cell apoptosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After inhibition of the PLC-gamma1 signaling pathway with 10 micromol/L U73122, PC12 cells showed obvious apoptotic morphology, the viable cells decreased significantly, and the percentage of apoptotic cells rose to 35.7%. PC12 cells treated with U73122 presented with a distinct DNA ladder on electrophoresis resulting from DNA cleavage in the apoptotic cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PLC-gamma1 signaling pathway plays an important protective role in H(2)O(2)-induced PC12 cell apoptosis.</p>