L-3-n-butylphthalide protects primary cultured cortical neurons from apoptosis induced by Aβ_(1-42) through p38MAPK pathway

Objective To elucidate the mechanism of L-3-n-butylphthalide protect against Aμ_(1-42)-in-duced apoptosis of cultured primary cortical neuron through p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.Methods After pretreatment with L-3-n-butylphthalide of differernt concentrations (0.1,1,10μmol/L) for 4 h before exposure to Aβ_(1-42)(10μmol/L) for 24 h.Changes of cell morphology was observed and the apoptotic rate was determined by an inverted fluorescence microscope, Expression of target proteins(total p38,phosphp38,caspase-3) was determined by Western blot.Results After exposure to Aβ_(1-42) for 24 h,cell apoptotic rate remarkably increased, expression of p-p38 and caspase-3 increased(P0.05).Pretreatment with L-3-n-butylphthalide for 4 h could significantly inhibit the Aβ_(1-42)-induced apoptotic rate increase,and signifcantly inverted the increased expression of p-p38 and caspase-3(P0.05).Conclusion L-3-n-butylph-thalide could protect Alzheimer disease neurons through decreasing p38 MAPK phosphorylation.