The protective potential of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on neuron has been investigated previously. This study was intended to investigate the effects of EP on the severity of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced injury in neural-like PC12 cells. PC12 cells were exposed to OGD condition with or without EP treatment. Then, cell viability, apoptosis, and the expressions of neurotrophic factors were detected. Further, Sprague-Dawley rats were intravenously administered with 5mg/kg EP for 14 days post-middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). The effects of EP on the infarct volumes and neurological functions of MCAO rats were then assessed. Result showed that EP alleviated OGD-diminished cells viability, OGD-induced apoptosis, and OGD-reduced expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and Nestin in PC-12 cells. EP blocked OGD-activated the Notch1 and nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways in PC12 cells. Besides, in vivo data demonstrated that EP treatment decreased infarct volume and mNSS score, and increased the time spent on the rota-rod apparatus of MCAO rats. To conclude, EP protected neural-like PC12 cells from cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by suppressing apoptosis and promoting neural restoration. Notch1 and NF-κB pathway might implicated in the functions of EP on neuron.
Keywords: Apoptosis; Ethyl pyruvate; Ischemic cerebrovascular disease; Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO); Notch1/NF-κB pathway; Oxygen-glucose deprivation.
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