Effects of salvianolic acid B on neurons during oxygen/glucose deprivation and reintroduction

AIM: To observe the damage induced in the primary cultured rat cortical neurons by oxygen/glucose deprivation and reintroduction, and to investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of salvianolic acid B (SalB). METHODS: Primary cultured rat cortical neurons were randomly divided into the control group, the model group and the SalB group. The cell model was established by oxygen/glucose deprivation for 3 h followed oxygen/glucose reintroduction for 24 h. The cortical neurons viability was determined by MTT assay. The leakage rate of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured by chromatometry. The mitochondrial membrane potentials (MMP) and the apoptosis rate were quantitatively analyzed by flow cytometry. The cytosolic free calcium was assessed using LSCM. The morphologic changes of neuronal nuclei were observed by Hoechst 33342 fluorescence staining. RESULTS: Compared to the model group, the cortical neurons viability, the survival rate and the fluorescence value of MMP in the SalB group were obviously increased (P<0.05,P<0.01). In addition, in the SalB group, the leakage rate of LDH, the fluorescence intensity of cytosolic free calcium and the apoptosis rate were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The neuroprotective mechanism of SalB in the oxygen/glucose deprivation and reintroduction neurons would be due to the fact that SalB maintains the MMP and the calcium homeostasis.