ABSTRACT
Objective The study aimed to explore the relationship between AIF related pathway and the inju-ring of cultured SGNs (spiral ganglion neurons)by glutamate toxicity,and to find AIF expression and distribution changes in SGNs.Methods SGNs of 40 newborn rats within 3 day were obtained and cultured in vitro.Cultured cells were divided into four groups:the normal control group,10 mM,20 mM and 40 mM glutamate injured group, separately.After 48 h hours culturing,optical microscopy,immune fluorescence staining and real-time fluores-cence quantitative PCR were used to observe the morphology,AIF distribution,and AIF,calpain,Caspase3 expres-sion changes in SGNs in vitro.TUNEL was used to verify the cell apoptosis.ResuIts Noticeable morphological chan-ges and cell apoptosis were occurred in 20 mM glutamate group,with AIF nuclear translocation.AIF gene expression was significantly higher than normal after glutamate administration (P0.05). ConcIusion In the process of cultured SGNs injured by glutamate,AIF participated in the cell apoptosis.Noticeable cell apoptosis were occurred in 20 mM glutamate group with AIF nuclear translocation.Calpain up-expression also contributed to excitatory neurotransmitter injury on SGNs,but Caspase 3 had no obvious effects.