ABSTRACT
AIM:To study the induction of apoptosis of pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell by L - dopa and the clinical significance. METHODS: Using PC12 cells as the medel of dopaminergic neurons,in addition to electron microscopy, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry, the apoptosis ratio by L - dopa and the effect of antioxi- dant glutathione on PC12 cells were observed. RESULTS: Treabent of PC12 cells with L - dopa in concentrations of 50 ?mol/L, 100?mol/L and 150 ?mol/L respectively for 24 hours, results revealed that the apoptosis ratio was 12. 8%, 24.4%, 37. 2%, respectively, which is in cobant with fragment pragment propartions of agarose gel electrophoresis, mere higher than that of control(2. 3% ) (P 0 .05). CONCLUTION: Induction of apoptosis by L - dopa could be inhibited by glutathione, and oxidative damage may be involved in the pathophysiology of dopaminergic neurons death after long - term treat- ment of L - dopa.