Effects of arsenic trioxide on cell proliferation and apoptosis in C6 glioma cell

Objective To investigate the effects of arsenic trioxide(As2O3) on the cell proliferation and apoptosis of C6 glioma cells in vitro.Methods The C6 glioma cells were treated by 1,3,5 μ mol/L of As2O3 with different duration and observed under the microscope and electromicroscope.The viability of C6 glioma cells was examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay,and cell cycle and apoptosis were examined by flow cytometry.Results After treatment of 1,3,5 μ mol/L As2O3,C6 glioma cells were inhibited obviously with a dose- and time-dependent manner (P ＜0.05) by MTT.During flow cytometry,more increasing apoptotic cells were found in different concentration As2O3.Characteristic morphological changes were observed in As2O3 intervention by transmission election microscopy including cell shrinkage,physaliphore,nuclear condensation and apoptosis and so on.Conclusion As2O3 can inhibit the cell proliferation and induce the apoptosis of C6 glioma cells. Key words: Glioma; Cell culture techniques; Apoptosis; Arsenic trioxide