Effect of high glucose concentration on survival and c-fos expression in hippocampal neurons of neonatal rats

Objective To investigate the effect of high glucose concentration on the survival and c-fos expression in hippocampal neurons of neonatal rats. Methods Hippocampal neurons of neonatal SD rat were cultured in serum-free medium and divided into normal group and high glucose groups at 6, 12, 18, 24 h. The survival and c-fos expression of hippocampal neurons were determined by PI/Hoechest 33342 and immunofluorescence cytochemical stain, respectively. Results The survival rate of hippocampal neurons was significantly lower in high glucose group at 24 h than that in normal group and high glucose groups at 6, 12 ,18 h (P0.01). After treatment with high glucose levels, c-fos expression occurred at 6 h, peaked at 12 h, and deceased gradually thereafter (P0.01). Conclusion The decreased survival of hippocampal neurons after treatment with high glucose levels could be related to c-fos expression in neonatal rats.