Neuroprotection by nicotine against hypoxia-induced apoptosis in cortical cultures involves activation of multiple nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes

摘要: Abstract Activation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) by nicotine has been suggested to protect neurons against a hypoxic insult. The objective this study was examine the nature cell death induced acute hypoxia in rat primary cortical cultures and neuroprotective potential ameliorating these processes. Neuronal 4-h exposure (0.1% O2) apoptotic, as shown TUNEL staining assays monitoring DNA strand breaks caspase-3/7 activity. presence (10 μM) during insult protected subpopulation susceptible neurones damage apoptosis oxygen deprivation. This protective effect prevented 30-min pre-incubation with either 100 nM α-bungarotoxin or 1 μM dihydro-β-erythroidine, but not atropine, suggesting that activation at least two subtypes nAChR, α7 β2* is involved mediating neuroprotection.