Neuroprotective effects of tetramethylpyrazine on hydrogen peroxide‐induced apoptosis in PC12 cells

Abstract

AbstractIn the present study, we investigated the effects of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)‐induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. The apoptosis in H2O2‐induced PC12 cells was accompanied by a decrease in Bcl‐2/Bax protein ratio, release of cytochrome c to cytosol and the activation of caspase‐3. TMP not only suppressed the down‐regulation of Bcl‐2, up‐regulation of Bax and the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c to cytosol, but also attenuated caspase‐3 activation and eventually protected against H2O2‐induced apoptosis. These results indicated that TMP blocked H2O2‐induced apoptosis by the regulation of Bcl‐2 family members, suppression of cytochrome c release, and caspase cascade activation in PC12 cells.