[NF-kappaB-mediated protective effect of erythropoitin on neuron against glutamate-induced damage]

To investigate protective effect and possible mechanisms of erythropoitin (EPO) on cortical neuron against damage induced by glutamate(Glu).

Cortical neurons were removed from 1-day-old newborn rat and then cultured in vitro. The model of damage induced by Glu was established. The experiment was designed as: control group, Glu treatment group,the group of pretreatment with EPO, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamates(PDTC) treatment group. The changes of morphology were observed under inverted microscopy; the cell viability was detected by MTT assay; and the apoptosis rate of neuron was measured by flow cytometry.

After exposure to Glu, neurons were obviously damaged. Neurons morph of EPO pretreatment group was similar to that of blank group. However, in PDTC treatment group, cells were obviously damaged, and morph of cells was similar to that of Glu treatment group. Compared with control group, survival of neurons of Glu treatment group significantly decreased, while the neurons apoptotis of Glu treatment group was significantly increased (P<0h01). Compared with Glu treatment group, the neurons, survival of EPO pretreatment group significantly increased, the neurons apoptotis can significantly decrease (P<0h01)ls. Compared with EPO pretreatment group, the cells survival of PDTC treatment group was significantly decreased, while the neurons, apoptotis of Glu treatment group was significantly increased (P<0h01), and similar to that of Glu treatment group.

EPO could protect cortical neuron from Glu toxicity,which might related to signal transduction of NF-kappaB.