Protective effect and mechanism of the calmodulin inhibitor W-7 on NMDA-induced apoptosis in cultured neurons

Objective: To explore the protective effect of the calmodulin inhibitor W-7 on apoptosis indued by NMDA and the possible mechanisms in rat cortical neurons.Methods: Primary cortical neurons were cultured for 7 days before test.Apoptotic neurons were determined by acridine orange fluorescent staining.The expression of p38 MAPK protein was detected by immunocytochemistry.Results: Compared with control,the apoptotic neurons were significantly increased(P0.01) after NMDA injury.Compared with NMDA alone,the number of apoptotic neurons was decreased(P0.05) after W-7 pretreatment.The expression of p38MAPK was remarkably up-regulated by NMDA injury;this up-regulation was inhibited(P0.05) by W-7 pretreatment.Conclusion: W-7 can relieve the apoptosis of cultured cortical neurons induced by NMDA,which is mediated by depressing p38MAPK activation.