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Effects of citalopram on serum deprivation induced PC12 cell apoptosis and BDNF expression.

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protective effects of citalopram on neural cells and its possible mechanism.


METHODS
Rat PC12 cells were induced with 100 mg/L nerve growth factor for 7 d before they were randomly divided into following groups: serum-free group, citalopram treatment groups (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 micromol/L) and serum group (n = 8). Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis rate and cell cycles were examined by flow cytometry. Hoechst 33342 staining was employed for cell morphology observation. Expression of BDNF was checked by Western blot and RT-PCR.


RESULTS
Cells treated with 60 micromol/L citalopram showed significantly higher viability than the serum-free group (P < 0.01). Apoptosis rate of the citalopram treatment group remarkably decreased according to flow cytometry (P < 0.01) and fewer cells were arrested in G1 phase (P < 0.01). Hoechst 33258 staining further demonstrated the improved survival of cells (P < 0.01) and chromosome condensation after citalopram treatment. Western blotting and RT-PCR results both indicated that citalopram treatment could significantly (P < 0.01) increase BDNF expression.


CONCLUSION
Citalopram has an anti-apoptotic effect on PC12 cells. Up-regulation of BDNF might be one of its nerve protection mechanisms.