Huperzine A protects rat pheochromocytoma cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation

Neuroreport. 2001 Jul 20;12(10):2073-7. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200107200-00007.

Abstract

The effect of huperzine A (HupA) on oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced injury was investigated in the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12. OGD for 3 h and reoxygenation for 24 h triggered apoptosis characterized by chromatin condensation, nucleus fragmentation and DNA laddering. The temporal profile of c-jun, p53, bcl-2 and bax mRNA after OGD indicated that these genes played important roles in apoptosis. Pre-incubation of the cells for 2 h with 1 microM HupA significantly attenuated apoptosis. The same treatment also reduced the up-regulation of c-jun and bax as well as the down-regulation of bcl-2. These data suggest the ability of HupA to attenuate apoptosis induced by OGD may result from its capability to alter the expression of apoptosis-related genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaloids
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Cell Hypoxia / drug effects
  • Cell Hypoxia / physiology
  • DNA Fragmentation / drug effects
  • DNA Fragmentation / physiology
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Gene Expression / physiology
  • Genes, bcl-2 / drug effects
  • Genes, bcl-2 / physiology
  • Genes, jun / drug effects
  • Genes, jun / physiology
  • Genes, p53 / drug effects
  • Genes, p53 / physiology
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • PC12 Cells
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2*
  • Rats
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology*
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein

Substances

  • Alkaloids
  • Bax protein, rat
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • huperzine A