OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of the tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) pretreatment on neurotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by paraquat (PQ) in PC12 cells.

METHODSCytotoxicity of PC12 cells was measured by MTT assay, following the PC12 cells treatment with different concentrations of 100, 300 micromol/L PQ for 24 h and 48 h. PC12 cells were pretreated with or without 40 micromol/L tBHQ for 4 h, PC12 cells were exposed to PQ at the doses of 0, 100, 300 micromol/L for 24 h and 48 h, respectively. The viability of PC12 cells was measured by MTT assay, the apoptosis rates of PC12 cells were detected by flow cytometry (FCM) and the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of PC12 cells were examine by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) method.

RESULTSWhen the exposure doses of PQ were 100 and 300 micromol/L for 24 h, the viability of PC12 cells pretreated with tBHQ was significantly higher than that of PC12 cells only exposed to PQ (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). When the exposure dose of PQ was 100 micromol/L for 48 h, the viability of PC12 cells pretreated with tBHQ was significantly higher than that of PC12 cells only exposed to PQ (P < 0.01). When the exposure doses of PQ were 100 and 300 micromol/L for 24 h, the apoptosis rates and MDA levels of PC12 cells pretreated with tBHQ were significantly lower than those of PC12 cells only exposed to PQ (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONStBHQ pretreatment can reduce the cytotoxicity, apoptosis and oxidative stress induced by PQ in PC12 cells.