Abstract: ObjectiveTo investigate the neuroprotective effects of pyrroloquinoline quinine (PQQ) on oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) in cultured rat neuroblastoma cells Neuro2A and the possible mechanisms involved. MethodsCultured rat neuroblastoma cells Neuro2A were pretreated or not pretreated with increasingly concentrations of PQQ, were exposed to 2 h combined OGD in an anaerobic chamber followed by reoxygenation of 6 h. The results on cellular morphology, cell viability，apoptotic cells, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and glutathione (GSH) were compared between OGD and PQQ group. ResultsPretreatment of PQQ (0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2, 6.4, 12.8 μmol/L) increased the cell viability (P＜0.05) and GSH level, decreased the contents of ROS and the percentage of apoptotic cells in cortical neurons exposure to OGD (P＜0.01). ConclusionPQQ exhibits remarkable protection against hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in Neuro2A cells, which may be associated to the inhibiting the oxidative stress and subsequent apoptosis.

Key words: pyrroloquinoline quinine, oxygen and glucose deprivation, apoptosis, Nuro2A cells, oxidative stress