Inhibitory effect of CART on apoptosis induced by NMDA in hippocampal neurons

AIM:To study the role and mechanisms of cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CART) on NMDA induced apoptosis in primary cultured hippocampal neurons. METHODS:The primary cultured hippocampal neurons were established from embryonic rats (day 18 of gestation). Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. DNA ladder and Hoechst staining were used to observe apoptosis in hippocampal neurons. Protein expression was examined by Western blotting. RESULTS:MTT assay indicated that CART enhanced neuronal viability. CART sustained neurons survival and protected neurons from NMDA-induced injury. Pretreatment with CART markedly increased the expression of Bcl-2 to the ratio of Bcl-2 and Bax in hippocampal neurons in NMDA-injured group. CART also inhibited the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. However,CART did not affect the expression of Bax and the activation of caspase-8 in normal hippocampal cultures. CONCLUSION:CART provides neuroprotective effects on NMDA-induced apoptosis in cultured hippocampal neurons by increasing Bcl-2 expression and inhibiting the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3.