Effects of lead acetate on apoptosis and caspase-3 activity in PC12 cells

Objective To investigate the effects of lead acetate on apoptosis and activity of caspase-3 in PC12 cells.Method IC 50 value was measured by MTT assay.Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258/PI fluorescence staining.Activity of caspase-3 was determined by colorimetric assay.Result The PC12 cells were exposed to lead acetate at varied concentrations for 48h.Its IC 50 value averaged(0.445±0.080)mmol/L.Apoptotic peak and typical morphological changes in apoptosis could be observed in cells exposed to 0.25 mmol/L and 0.5 mmol/L of lead acetate for 48 h.Apoptotic rate by both flow cytometry and fluorescence staining in cells exposed to 0.25 mmol/L and 0.5 mmol/L of lead acetate was significantly higher than that in control groups(P0.05 or P0.01).Activity of caspase-3 in cells exposed to 0.25 mmol/L and 0.5 mmol/L of lead acetate was much higher than that in control group(P0.01).Conclusion Lead acetate could induce apoptosis in PC12 cells,with a possible mechanism which may be related to the activation of caspase-3.