The protective effect of the insulin against paraquat-induced PC12 cells

Abstract

Objective To observe dopamine (DA) D2R protein expression in the cultured PC 12 cells and the effect of insulin on the survival rate,morphology,and DA of paraquat (PQ)-induced PC12 cells. Methods Immunoprecipitate Western blotting method was performed to observe DA D2R protein expression in PC 12 cells,MTT assay was used to analyze the changes in viability and morphology of PC 12 ceils which were exposed to different concentrations of PQ and insulin. Results (1) DA D2R protein was expressed in PC 12 ceils. (2) Normal PCI2 cells bodies showed fusiform shape and the synapses were in-tegrity. The cells which were exposed to the 600 μmol/L PQ became ball-like, vacuolar degeneration oc-urred,and the synapse became shorter or disappeared. But the morphology of PC12 cells had a little difference between the normal PC12 and the insulin groups,except that the cells were fusiform shape or a-nomalism but not round shape,and the synapses grew. (3) With the increase of the concentration of PQ, the viability of the cells was decreased. Insulin increased the viability of the ceils which were exposed to 600 μmol/L PQ. Insulin elevated DA concentration both in the normal PC12 cells and those exposed to 600 μmol/L PQ,but there was no significant difference ( P > 0.05 ). Conclusion Insulin could protect the PC12 dopaminergic neurons from injury induced by PQ. Key words: Parkinson's disease; Paraquat; Insulin; PC12 cells