Abstract
Dopaminergic neurons have been shown to be highly sensitive to reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can induce the apoptosis of neurons. Dopamine is one of the chief sources of ROS in the Parkinsonian brain. The oxidation product of dopamine can injure cellular components such as proteins, lipids, and DNA, and finally elicit apoptosis. Dopamine can induce apoptosis in various cells including cultured dopaminergic neurons and rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells.
Pentbarbital,one of barbiturates, habe a protective effect against apoptosis indeced by serum deprivation in PC-12 cells. We investigated barbiturates effect on apoptosis in PC-12 induced by various stimulation including hydrogen peroxide, dopamine, thapsigargin, tunicamycin, staurosporine, 3-nitropropionic acd, actinomycin D.
We found that pre-treatment of pentbarbital and phenobarbital inhibited apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide and dopamine in PC-12, and that pentbarbital induced NO synthase (NOS) in PC-12 cells.
