Protective effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on rat hippocampal neurons injured by oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide(LBP) against injury from oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/RP) in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons. METHODS: Cultured hippocampal neurons were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for 2 h followed by a 24 h reperfusion. The MTT assay and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)release were used to evaluate the protective effects of LBP. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA)were determined by spectrophotometry using commercial kits. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in hippocampal neurons were measured using confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). RESULTS: Treatment with LBP (10-40 mg · L-1) significantly attenuated neuronal damage and inhibited LDH release in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, LBP enhanced activities of SOD and GSH-Px but it decreased their MDA content, inhibited [Ca2+]i elevation and decrease of MMP in ischemia-reperfusion treated hippocampal neurons. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that LBP may be a potential neuroprotective agent for cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.