Abstract:

Objective    To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of nortryptyline on oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced primary cortical neuronal death.  Methods    In vitro cultured primary cortical neurons were induced by OGD with nortryptyline in different concentrations（1.0,2.5,5.0,10.0μmol/L）, or without nortryptyline pretreatment. Then the neuronal activity and survival rate were determined by MTT， immunocytochemical staining and trypan blue staining. Also, release amounts of cytochrome c, Smac/Diablo and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) were determined by Western blot. Results     Nortryptyline significantly improved the growth condition and survival rate of primary cortical neurons, and inhibited cytochrome c, Smac/Diablo and AIF release after OGD injury.  Conclusion    Nortryptyline plays a neuroprotective role in cortical neuronal death induced by OGD, via the inhibition of cytochrome c, Smac/Diablo and AIF release.

Key words: Nortryptyline; Neurons; Oxygen-glucose deprivation; Apoptosis