Lycopene protects primary mouse cerebrocortical neurons against t-BHP-induced damage in vitro

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of lycopene on primary mouse cerebrocortical neurons exposed to tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) and its mechanisms of in vitro.METHODS: Primary cerebrocortical neurons of newborn C57 mice were extracted and divided into normal group, t-BHP group, lycopene+t-BHP group and lycopene group. The neuronal damage was induced by t-BHP exposure for 24 h, and the cell viability was examined by MTT assay. ROS content was measured by flow cytometry, and the protein levels of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome C were examined by Western blot.RESULTS: The primary mouse cortical neurons expressed MAP-2 protein. Lycopene at concentration of 4 μmol/L reversed the decrease in cell viability. Flow cytometry revealed that lycopene treatment attenuated ROS content under the condition of t-BHP exposure. In addition, the protein level of Bcl-2 was increased, and the expression of Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome-C was suppressed in lycopene+t-BHP group.CONCLUSION: The protective effect of lycopene on cortical neurons with t-BHP-induced injury may be involved in the mechanism of neuronal antioxidative response by down-regulating caspase-3 and Bax/Bcl-2 through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.