OBJECTIVETo explore the experimental conditions for H2O2 to injure astrocytes and the effect of baicalin in protecting neurons and astrocytes from oxidative stress injury.

METHODSNeurons and astrocytes from forebrain of rats were cultured in vitro and treated with H2O2, baicalin and combination of the two, respectively. The cell viability or survival rate was determined using MTT.

RESULTSEffects of H2O2 in different concentrations on survival rate of astrocytes showed significant difference (F = 28.569, P < 0.01) in a dose-dependent manner. Degrees of H2O2 injury, with the same concentration of H2O2, on cells with different seeding density were also significantly different (F = 5.439, P < 0.01), and dose-dependently. Baicalin didn't influence the survival rate of neurons and astrocytes when the concentration was within 2.5-40 mumol/L (for neurons, F = 0.49, P > 0.05; for astrocytes, F = 1.001, P > 0.05), but baicalin showed significant antagonism to the injury of oxidative stress (for neurons, F = 24.384, P < 0.01; for astrocytes, F = 5.000, P < 0.01). The higher the concentration of bainalin, the higher the cell survival rate.

CONCLUSIONA model of astrocytes oxidative injury induced by H2O2 is established. Baicalin shows no toxicity on neurons and astrocytes when the concentration is within 2.5-40 mumol/L, but could antagonize the H2O2 caused oxidative injury on cells in a dose-dependent manner.