Effect of ischemic-preconditioning on ischemic tolerance and bcl-2 expression in cultured rat cortical neurons

Objective To study the effect of ischemic preconditioning on ischemic tolerance and the expression of bcl-2 in primary cultured rat cortical neurons. Methods The neurons primary cultured in vivo were randomly divided into control group treated with 30 minutes ischemia and ischemic preconditioning group treated with 10 minutes ischemic preconditioning before 30 min ischemia. The apbptosis was detected with TUNEL. Bcl-2 expressions were studied with irnmunohistochernical assay. Results The apoptosis rate in control group was obviously higher than that in ischemic preconditioning group. The expression of bcl-2 in control group was obviously lower than that in ischemic preconditioning group. And there was a statistic difference between control group and ischemic preconditioning group. Conclusion Ischemic preconditioning can induce ischemic tolerance in cultured cortical neurons. Preconditioning might activate bcl-2 and improve its role of neuroprotection.