δ-opioid receptors protect neurons against neuronal injury induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation

Objective To investigate the effect of cortical δ-opioid receptor (DOR) on oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced (OGD-induced) neuronal injury. Methods Primary cultured cortical neurons incubated with selective DOR agonist (TAN-67) and antagonist (naltrindole) or PKC inhibitor (chelerythrine,CHE) were exposed to OGD. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release was detected after 24 h reperfusion. The expression levels of DOR were measured by Western blot. Results Compared with OGD group,TAN-67 significantly decreased OGD-induced LDH release,and increased the expression levels of DOR,while naltrindole aggravated neuronal injury and decreased the DOR protein expression. CHE could abolish the LDH down-regulation induced by TAN-67 plus OGD (P0.05,compared with TAN-67 treated group). Conclusions DOR activation protects neurons against OGD injury. PKC might take part in the neuroprotection pathways of DOR.