Neuroprotective effects of oxysophocarpine on neonatal rat primary cultured hippocampal neurons injured by oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhu, Qing-Luan; Li, Yu-Xiang; Zhou, Ru; Ma, Ning-Tian; Chang, Ren-Yuan; Wang, Teng-Fei; Zhang, Yi; Chen, Xiao-Ping; Hao, Yin-Ju; Jin, Shao-Ju; Ma, Lin; Du, Juan; Sun, Tao; Yu, Jian-Qiang
• Is Part Of: Pharmaceutical biology. Volume 52:Number 8(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1052
• Page End: 1059
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Materia medica, Vegetable -- Periodicals; 615.321
• DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2013.877039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-0209

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Context:</italic> Oxysophocarpine (OSC), a quinolizidine alkaloid extracted from leguminous plants of the genus <italic>Robinia</italic>, is traditionally used for various diseases including neuronal disorders.</p> <p> <italic>Objective</italic>: This study investigated the protective effects of OSC on neonatal rat primary-cultured hippocampal neurons were injured by oxygen–glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/RP).</p> <p> <italic>Materials and methods</italic>: Cultured hippocampal neurons were exposed to OGD for 2 h followed by a 24 h RP. OSC (1, 2, and 5 μmol/L) and nimodipine (Nim) (12 μmol/L) were added to the culture after OGD but before RP. The cultures of the control group were not exposed to OGD/RP. MTT and LDH assay were used to evaluate the protective effects of OSC. The concentration of intracellular-free calcium [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<italic><sub>i</sub></italic> and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were determined to evaluate the degree of neuronal damage. Morphologic changes of neurons following OGD/RP were observed with a microscope. The expression of caspase-3 and caspase-12 mRNA was examined by real-time quantitative PCR.</p> <p> <italic>Results</italic>: The IC<sub>50</sub> of OSC was found to be 100 μmol/L. Treatment with OSC (1, 2, and 5 μmol/L) attenuated neuronal damage (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001), with evidence of increased cell viability (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001) and decreased cell morphologic impairment. Furthermore, OSC increased MMP (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001), but it inhibited [Ca<sup>2+</sup>]<italic><sub>i</sub></italic> (<italic>p</italic> < 0.001) elevation in a dose-dependent manner at OGD/RP. OSC (5 μmol/L) also decreased the expression of caspase-3 (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05) and caspase-12 (<italic>p</italic> < 0.05).</p> <p> <italic>Discussion and conclusion</italic>: The results suggested that OSC has significant neuroprotective effects that can be attributed to inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis.</p> </abstract>