Effects of Gualou Guizhi Granules on Excitatory Toxic Damage of PC12 Induced by Glutamate / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of Gualou Guizhi Granules on excitatory toxic damage of PC12 induced by glutamate; To primarily explore the involved protective mechanism of Gualou Guizhi Granules. Methods Excitatory toxic damage of PC12 induced by glutamate was used to establish models. Cells were divided into normal group, glutamate group, and Gualou Guizhi Granules low- (200 μg/mL), medium- (400 μg/mL) and high-dose (800 μg/mL) groups. MTT and LDH assay methods were used to detect PC12 activity; Caspase-3 activity detection method and Annexine V/PI double staining method were used to detect cell apoptosis; Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect Bcl-2, Bax protein and mRNA expression. Results Compared with glutamate group, MTT showed that all Gualou Guizhi Granules groups could improve PC12 activity, and LDH showed that cell activity in all Gualou Guizhi Granules groups decreased; Annexine V/PI double staining method showed that all Gualou Guizhi Granules groups could decrease the PC12 apoptosis; Caspase-3 activity detection method showed that all Gualou Guizhi Granules groups could decrease the activity of Caspase-3; Western blot and RT-PCR showed that all Gualou Guizhi Granules groups could reduce Bax expression and increase Bcl-2 expression. Conclusion Gualou Guizhi Granules have certain protective effects on excitatory toxic damage of PC12 induced by glutamate, which may be related to its anti-apoptotic activity.