ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate whether isorhamnetin could protect against rotenone-induced PC 12 cells injury via regulating PI3K/Akt/GSK-3p/CREB pathway. Methods PC 12 cell viability was determined by MTT and LDH assays. The expressions of Akt,p-Akt,GSK-3p,p-GSK-3p,CREB and p-CREB were measured by Western blot. Results The cell viability and level of phospho-CREB significantly decreased in PC 12 cells exposed to rotenone when compared to control group. Both the cell viability and the expression of phospho-CREB in cells pretreated with isorhamnetin were higher than those of cells exposed to rotenone alone. Moreover, pretreatment of PC 12 cells with isorhamnetin enhanced phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3fi. The addition of LY294002 could suppress the phosphorylation of Akt, GSK-3p and CREB, resulting in abolishment of neuroprotective effects of isorhamnetin on cells exposed to rotenone. Conclusion Isorhamnetin might alleviate rotenone-induced PC 12 cells injury partially via the PI3K/Akt/GSK-3 (3/CREB signaling pathway.