Effects of Ginkgolide B on Embryonic Rat Midbrain Neurons

OBJECTIVE:To study the promotion and protective effects of ginkgolide B(GBE) on the growth and differentiation of embryonic rat midbrain neurons.METHODS:The primary cell culture was made in vitro by using midbrain neuronic cell suspension from 14 days old Wistar rats.Rats were divided into normal control group,GBE control(50 mg·L-1) group,KA(100 μmol·L-1) ,NGF(50 mg·L-1+KA100 μmol·L-1) ,GB high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose(100,50,25 mg·L-1+KA100 μmol·L-1) group.The embryonic rat midbrain neurons were cultured for 10 days respectively.Neurons was indentificated by NSE.Subsequently,the contents of malondialdehyde(MDA) and nitric oxide(NO) in the cultured cells were measured by fluorometric assay and nitric acid reduction methods.Superoxide dismutase(SOD) activities were detected by xanthinoxidase method.RESULTS:Cell growth and differentiation in GB high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose groups were significantly better than in KA group.Compared with normal control group,the activities of SOD in KA group was weakened significantly,while the content of MDA,NO were increased significantly.Compared with KA group,the activities of SOD in GB high-dose,medium-dose and low-dose groups was enhanced significantly,while the content of MDA,NO were decreased significantly.CONCLUSION:GBE can promote the growth and differentiation of embryonic rat midbrain neuronic cells and prevent the nerves from damage made by KA,which may be related with relief the lipid peroxidation in the cultured embryonic rat midbrain neurons.