Inhibition of serum deprivation-induced PC12 cell apoptosis by tanshinone II A.

AIM: To study the effect of tanshinone II A (Tan II A) on PC12 cell apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. METHODS: PC12 cell survival was measured by MTT assay. The DNA content and percentage of apoptosis were monitored by flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: Serum-free (12 h) medium induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. When the cells had been treated with Tan II A (0.1 and 1 micromol . L-1) for 12 h, the percentage of PC12 cell apoptosis was greatly decreased to 25.71 % and 4.89 % from 96.07 % in serum deprivation alone group, and DNA fragmentation was prevented. Tan II A (0.01 - 10 micromol . L-1) attenuated the cytotoxic effect of sodium cyanide (20 mmol . L-1), glutamate (0.5 mmol . L-1), and sodium nitroprusside (0.5 mmol . L-1). CONCLUSION: Tan II A prevented PC12 cells from apoptosis induced by serum-free medium.