Study of the protection of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of Bcl-2 to the primary cultured spiral ganglion cells agaist apoptosis induced by oxidative stress

Objective To investigate the effect of exogenous Bcl-2 protein expression on the apoptosis of the primary cultured spiral ganglion cells(SGC)induced by oxidative stress.Methods The spiral ganglion cells of newly born rats were cultured in vitro.The adenoviral vectors containing human Bcl-2 gene(group A)or no gene(group B)were used for infecting the rat SGCs.Then the SGCs were exposed to hydrogen peroxide at the concentration of 100 μmol/L.Cell nuclei were stained simultaneously with the DNA binding dyes Hoechst 33258 and propidium iodide.Results At the concentration of 100 μmol/L of hydrogen peroxide,apoptosis was the main reason for cell death.The number of the impaired SGCs in group A was larger than that in group B.Conclusion Bcl-2 gene can protect SGCs against the apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide.