MCI-186 (3-Methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one) Attenuated Simulated Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Cultured Rat Hippocampal Cells

Abstract

The reactive oxygen species and Ca²⁺ overload play a critical role in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. MCI-186 has potent effects in the brain as a free radical scavenger in ischemia-reperfusion. Acute glucose–oxygen deprivation and subsequent reoxygenation were used to model ischemia/reperfusion injury in cultured hippocampal cells. MCI-186 reduced malondialdehyde level and raised the SOD activity when applied upon reoxygenation in a dose-dependent manner compared with the untreated group. The peak neuroprotective effects occurred at 100 and 300 μM. Intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i) was significantly reduced in the 100 μM MCI-186-treated group compared to the untreated group (32.5±4.0 versus 50.2±3.6, p<0.01). Treatment with 100 μM MCI-186 significantly inhibited the decrease of mitochondria membrane potential after simulated ischemia/reperfusion (204±11.6% compared with the untreated group, p<0.01). Cell apoptotic rate was significantly decreased following MCI-186 treatment from 33.7±2.3% (untreated group) to 16.6±1.4% (100 μM MCI-186 treated group). There was no significantly protective difference between 100 and 300 μM MCI-186. MCI-186 effectively protects neuron injury after simulated ischemia/reperfusion by inhibiting lipid peroxidation, reducing Ca²⁺ overload, elevating mitochondria membrane potential, and decreasing apoptosis.