BMC Neurosci. 2004 Dec 8;5:55.

Xenon prevents cellular damage in differentiated PC-12 cells exposed to hypoxia.

Petzelt C¹, Blom P, Schmehl W, Müller J, Kox WJ.

Author information

1: University Hospital Charité, Clinic for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Experimental Anesthesiology, 14050 Berlin, Germany. christian.Petzelt@charite.de

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The neuroprotective effect of xenon has been demonstrated for glutamatergic neurons. In the present study it is investigated if dopaminergic neurons, i.e. nerve-growth-factor differentiated PC-12 cells, are protected as well against hypoxia-induced cell damage in the presence of xenon.

RESULTS:

Pheochromocytoma cells differentiated by addition of nerve growth factor were placed in a N2-saturated atmosphere, a treatment that induced release of dopamine, reaching a maximum after 30 min. By determining extracellular lactate dehydrogenase concentration as marker for concomitant cellular damage, a substantial increase of enzymatic activity was found for N2-treated cells. Replacement of N2 by xenon in such a hypoxic atmosphere resulted in complete protection against cellular damage and prevention of hypoxia-induced dopamine release. Intracellular buffering of Ca2+ using the Ca-chelator 1, 2-bis(2-Aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetrakis(acetoxymethyl) ester (BAPTA) reduced the neuroprotective effect of xenon indicating the essential participation of intracellular Ca2+-ions in the process of xenon-induced neuroprotection.