Activation of Muscarinic Cholinergic Receptors Protects Cerebellar Granule Neurons from Dopamine-Induced Apoptosis via ERK Pathway / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ABSTRACT

【Objective】To investigate the molecular mechanism of dopamine (DA)-induced apoptosis in cultured cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) and the effect of muscarinic cholinergic receptor (mAChR) agonist carbachol on it.【Methods】The apoptosis of neurons was measured by phase-contrast microscopy,Hoechst 33258 nucleus staining and DNA fragmentation agarose gel electrophoresis.The neuronal viability was measured by fluorescein diacetate (FDA) staining.The activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) was determined by Western blot.【Results】Dopamine increases the phosphorylation of ERK and induces apoptosis in CGNs,which is blocked by both carbachol and PD 98059.The protective effect and the inhibiting ERK phosphorylation of carbachol were blocked by atropine.【Conclusion】DA-induced apoptosis in CGNs may be mediated by activation of ERK.Carbachol protects CGNs from DA-induced apoptosis by activating mAChR and subsequent inhibition of activation of ERK.