Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of butylphthalide on the apoptosis of SH-SY5Y cells induced by the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium iodide (MPP+). Methods SH-SY5Y cells were cultured with butylphthalide in the dosage of 1 µmol/L, 10 µmol/L and 20 µmol/L for 2 hours, and with MPP+ for 24 hours. The viability of cells was measured with trypan blue. The mitochondrial membrane potential was detected with Rhodamine 123. The content of P53 protein was detected with ELISA. The expression of P53 and cytochrome C (CytC) were detected with Western blotting. Results The viability of SH-SY5Y cells increased with the dosage of butylphthalide (P<0.05), while the mitochondrial membrane potential and the expression of P53 and CytC decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion Butylphthalide can prevents the SH-SY5Y cells from the injury induced by MPP+, which may associate with the inhibition of apoptosis through the expression of P53 and CytC.

Key words: Parkinson's disease, butylphthalide, SH-SY5Y cells, P53, cytochrome C, apoptosis