Inhibitory effect of acetylcholine on apoptosis of myocardial H9c2 cells induced by norepinephrine

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on the apoptosis of myocardial H9c2 cells induced by norepinephrine (NE). METHODS: The apoptosis model of myocardial H9c2 cells was established by treating the cells with NE at different concentrations, and ACh was used to observed the protective effect. The cell viability was measured by MTT assay and the optimal doses of NE and ACh were selected. Four blockers related to different signaling pathways were also used. The apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. JC-1 staining was used to observe the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential of the H9c2 cells. DCFH-DA staining was used to observe intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. RESULTS: The viability of H9c2 cells was decreased by treatment with NE at 10 μmol/L. The membrane potential of mitochondria was decreased, while ROS production and apoptotic rate were increased significantly (P<0.05). Pretreatment with ACh at 10 mmol/L resulted in the increase in cell viability and decrease in the ROS production, and inhibited the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and cell apoptosis (P<0.05). After treatment with the 4 signaling pathway blockers before ACh, the protective effect of ACh was significantly reduced only by PDTC. CONCLUSION: ACh inhibits the apoptosis of H9c2 cells induced by NE, and its mechanism may be related to NF-κB signaling pathway.