Chlorpromazine reduces toxicity and Ca2+ uptake induced by amyloid beta protein (25-35) in vitro

Amyloid beta protein (A beta), has been reported to be toxic to neurons in vitro. However, the molecular mechanism leading to neuronal death remains unknown. Here we report protective effects of phenothiazines, a class of neuroleptic agent, against A beta toxicity in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons and PC12 cells. beta(25-35), an active sequence of A beta, showed dose-dependent reduction of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide dye (MTT) reductivity, and chlorpromazine (CPZ), promethazine or trifluoperazine restored it at micromolar concentration. The significant increase in Ca2+ uptake by chronic treatment of beta(25-35) was reduced not only by nimodipine but also by CPZ. These results suggest that phenothiazines attenuate beta(25-35) toxicity possibly by reducing of Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels.