Effect of Oxygen Radicals on Cultured Cerebral Neurons of Neonatal Mouse

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In order to elucidate the neurotoxic mechanism of oxygen radicals which are pathological factor of ischemia, we evaluated the oxidant-induced neurotoxicity and the neuroprotective effect of antioxidant on cultured cerebral neurons derived from neonatal mouse. METHODS: Neurotoxic effect was investigated after cultured mouse neuronal cells were exposed to oxygen radicals which were generated enzymatically by reaction of xanthine oxidase (XO) and hypoxanthine (HX). And also the neuroprotective effect of antioxidant was assessed with catalase. Both effects determined by cell viability were assessesd by MTT assay and neurofilament enzymeimmuno assay (EIA). In order to see the histologic change microscopic exam also done on the cerebral neuronal cells. RESULTS: 1) Oxygen radicals were toxic on cultured mouse cerebral neurons in dose- and time-dependent manner. 2) The value of lethal concentration50 (LC50) of oxygen radicals was estimated at a concentration of 25mU/ml xanthine oxidase (XO) and 0.2mM hypoxanthine (HX) in these culture. 3) Catalase was effective in blocking the neurotoxicity induced by oxygen radicals at a concentration of 50ug/ml. 4) Oxygen radicals induced the decrease of cell number and the loss of neurites in cultured mouse cerebral neurons. CONCLUSION: It is suggest that oxygen radicals cause the neurotoxicity and the selective antioxidants such as catalase are very effective in blocking oxidant-mediated neurotoxicity on cultured cerebral neurons of neonatal mouse.