Antioxidant Effect of Allopurinol on Oxygen Radical-Induced Toxicity in Cultured Mouse Cerebral Neurons / 체질인류학회지

ABSTRACT

In order to elucidate the neurotoxic effect of oxygen radicals on cultured mouse cerebral neurons, the neurotoxicity induced by xanthine oxidase (XO) and hypoxanthine (HX), was evaluated by MTT assay. The neuroprotective effect of allopurinol against oxidant -mediated neurotoxicity was also examined in these cultures by MTT assay and neurofilament enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) with light microscopy. The results were as follows 1. Oxygen radicals induced degenerative changs such as the decrease of cell number and the loss of neurites in cultured mouse cerebral neurons. 2. The value of midcytotoxicity value (MTT50) of oxygen radicals was estimated at a concentration of 20 mU/ml XO and 0.1 mM HX for 4 hours in these cultures. 3. Cell viability of cultured mouse cerebral neurons was significantly decreased by XO/HX in a dose -and time -dependent manners. 4. Allopurinol was very effective in blocking the neurotoxicity induced by XO/HX at a concentration of 30 microM as determined by MTT assay and neurofilament enzymeimmunoas-say. From the above results, it is suggested that oxygen radicals show neurotoxicity, and the selective antioxidant such as allopurinol are very effective in blocking oxidant -mediated neurotoxicity on cultured mouse cerebral neurons.