Caspase inhibitor reduces myocyte cell apoptosis induced by hypoxia in vitro

Objective To investigate the significance of caspase inhibitor in neonatal cardiomyocyte apoptosis induced by hypoxia. Methods The cultured cardiomyocytes from 2 - 3 d newborn SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, ischemic 72 h group and caspase inhibitor group. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL and flow cytometry. The caspase - 3 activity was detected by caspase - 3 fluorescent assay kit . Results TUNEL method and flow cytometry analysis showed that apoptosis indexes and the percentage of apoptosis cells in caspase inhibitor group was (14.10±2.56)% and (14.93 ± 2.47)% respectively, and compared with the ischemic 72 h group(46.49 ± 4.93) % and (48.43±4.18) % , were significantly lower( P 0.01) .caspase - 3 activity analysis showed that caspase - 3 activity in caspase inhibitor group was reduced 52.85% relative to ischemic 72 h group. Conclusion caspase inhibitor can efficiently inhibit apoplosis of neonatal cardiomyocytes after hypoxia insult, caspase inhibitor can efficiently inhibit activity of caspase - 3 in cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes after hypoxia insult.