Apoptosis of cultured rat hippocampal neurons induced by sodium nitroprusside

Objective:To observe the effect of sodium nitroprusside(SNP)on apoptosis of the cultured rat hippocampal neurons.Methods:The cultured rat hippocampal neurons weretreated with different concentrations of SNP(0 600 μmol/L)for 24 hours.The viability of neurons was determined by MTT assay,and the morphological and biochemical changes were observed by invert microscope and fluorescent staining (Hoechst 33258)and by agarose gel electrophoresis,respectively.Results:SNP lowered the survival rate of neurons in a dose dependent manner,and there was 58.2% of survival rate at strength of 50 μ mol/L.When exposed to higher concentrations of SNP(50 200 μ mol/L),neurons exhibited the morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis,including cell shrinkage,neurite degeneration,network disappearance,condensation and aggregation of nuclear chromatin,and the formation of DNA ladder.There were more apoptotic bodies with the increase of SNP concentration.Conclusion:SNP could induce the apoptosis of cultured hippocampal neurons in rats.