Protective effect of icaritin on apoptosis of primarily cultured rat neurons induced by Abeta25-35 peptide / 浙江大学学报·医学版

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effects of icaritin (ICT) on apoptosis of primarily cultured rat neurons induced by Abeta(25-35) peptide and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cortical neurons from rat embryonic cortical on d17 pregnancy were cultured in neural basal medium for 7 days. Icaritin (ICT) was pre-incubated for 24 h before adding Abeta(25-35) peptide and then the cells were incubated for 72 h. Neuroprotective effects of ICT were evaluated by MTT assay, LDH level in medium and cell morphological observation. Meanwhile, apoptosis was determined by JC-1 staining for mitochondria membrane potential (DeltaPsim) and AO/EB double staining for genetic damage of nucleoli in monolayer cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>0.1 micromol.L(-1) ICT pre-incubation for 24 h prevented rat neurons from Abeta(25-35) peptide induced apoptosis significantly as demonstrated by MTT, LDH assay and morphological observation. AO/EB double staining also indicated that ICT prevented neurons from apoptosis. JC-1 staining further showed that ICT prevented decreasing of mitochondrial DeltaPsim induced by Abeta(25-35) peptide.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ICT could protect primarily cultured rat neurons from Abeta(25-35) peptide induced apoptosis.</p>