RESUMO
Aim To investigate the anti-aging effect of catalpol on normal cortical neurons and its possible mechanism. Methods Primary cultured cortical neu-rons from 24 h newly born rats were dissociated and cultured. The cells were divided into normal group, catalpol (0. 1 mg · L - 1 )group,catalpol (1 mg · L - 1 )group and catalpol (10 mg·L - 1 )group. Neu-rons were cultured for 13d,and the cell morphology was observed by microscope. Cell activity was detected by MTT assay. p-S6 and Map-2 of 13d neurons were detected by immunofluorescence to reveal cell viability and the axon growth. GAP-43,p-S6,PI3K,p-PI3K, Akt,p-Akt,mTOR and p-mTOR protein expression of 13d neurons were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with normal group,different concentrations of catalpol could delay the aging of neurons,promote their survival and increase cell viability. The nμmber of p-S6 positive cells increased. Different concentra-tions of catalpol could promote axon growth. GAP-43, p-S6,PI3K,p-PI3K,Akt,p-Akt,mTOR and p-mTOR protein expression of 13d neurons increased. Conclusions Catalpol has anti-aging effects on cere-bral cortical neurons,and its mechanism may be relat-ed to regulating PI3K/ Akt/ mTOR signaling pathway and enhancing neuronal growth activity.