RESUMO
Objective To investigate the effects of ephedrine on the expression levels of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) and synapsin1 in PC12 cells, and to explore the mechanism of ephedrine cytotoxicity on PC12. Methods After PC12 cells were treated with different concentration of ephedrine, the cell survival rate was measured by the methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The morphology changes of PC12 cells were observed by an inverted microscope. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression levels of BDNF, PSD95 and synapsin1 in PC12 cells. Results Ephedrine decreased the viability of PC12 cell in a concentration-dependent manner,with an IC25 and IC50 of 0.536 mmol and 2.8 mmol, respectively, for PC12 cell death. As ephedrine concentration increased, PC12 cells became smaller in size, with blurred boundary blurred, reduced synapses and shorter axon lengths. The expression levels of BDNF and PSD95 increased significantly. Meanwhile the expression level of synapsin1 decreased. Conclusion The mechanism of ephedrine cytotoxicity on PC12 may be related to the expression levels of BDNF, PSD95 and synapsin1.