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Hydrogen peroxide induces neurite degeneration: Prevention by tocotrienols

Koji Fukui1, Hirokatsu Takatsu, Tatsuro Koike

  • 1Physiological Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Bioscience and Engineering, College of Systems Engineering and Sciences, Shibaura Institute of Technology,Fukasaku 307, Minuma-ku, Saitama, 337-8570, Japan. koji@sic.shibaura-it.ac.jp

Free Radical Research
|March 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Hydrogen peroxide causes early neurite beading in neurons, a sign of degeneration before cell death. Tocotrienols effectively prevent this damage, offering neuroprotection.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can damage tissues, including neurons, potentially leading to cell death.
  • The precise mechanisms of early neuronal changes induced by ROS before cell death remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the early molecular mechanisms of neuronal injury induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
  • To evaluate the protective effects of tocopherol and tocotrienols against H2O2-induced neuronal damage.

Main Methods:

  • Neuronal cell cultures (neuro2a and cerebellar granule neurons) were treated with low concentrations of H2O2.
  • Western blotting was used to detect changes in collapsin response mediator protein (CRMP)-2.
  • The effects of tocopherol and tocotrienols on H2O2-induced changes were assessed.

Main Results:

  • H2O2 treatment induced neurite injury, characterized by beading, without causing cell death.
  • Unusual higher molecular weight bands of CRMP-2 were observed after H2O2 treatment.
  • Tocopherol and tocotrienols inhibited these H2O2-induced CRMP-2 alterations.
  • Tocotrienols demonstrated a stronger protective effect against H2O2-induced neurite degeneration than tocopherol.

Conclusions:

  • Neurite beading is an early indicator of neuronal degeneration caused by H2O2 exposure.
  • Tocotrienols exhibit significant neuroprotective properties by preventing H2O2-induced neurite damage.

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