Abstract:

Objective  To investigate the effects of realgar on C6 glioma and its possible mechanisms concerning cell apoptosis in vitro. Methods  Rat C6 glioma cells were cultured under standard conditions. Realgar solution was used at several concentrations on glioma cells for 24?h and 48?h. The inhibitory effect was observed by MTT, microscopy and TEM. FCM was used to detect the apoptos is of glioma cells after Annexin V- FITC-II double staining, and RT-PCT was used for the detection of the three apoptosis genes. Results  The MTT method showed gradient cell growth inhabitation at gradient concentrations. Cell apoptosis wasobserved via microscope and TEM. Annexin V-FITC-PI double staining showed the apoptosis rate of realgar at 25?mg/L after 24?h and 48?h was (10.13±3.14)% and (41.04±17.44)% respectively, which was significantly different from that of the control group. The up-regulation of Bax mRNA and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and c-myc mRNA were also observed by RT-PCR. Conclusion  The effectsof realgar on C6 glioma are positively time- and concentration-related. This phenomenon is related to apoptosis induced by realgar. The up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and c-myc maybe play important roles in the process.

Key words: Realgar;  Glioma cell; Apoptosis