Objective To investigate the protective effect of risperidone on neuronal cells.Methods
PC12 cells differentiation were performed
by adding nerve growth factor at the concentration of 100 mg/L for 7 days in vitro,then the cells were randomly divided into four groups: serum-cultured,serum-free,
haloperidol and
risperidone treatment group.MTT assay was performed to determine cell viability.The apoptotic cell ratio and cell cycle were detected with flow cytometer assay.And the apoptotic morphological changes of PC12 cells were examined with Hoechst33342 staining.The effect of risperidone or haloperidol treatment was compared with that in serum-free group without treatment,respectively.Results (1) Cell viability in risperidone group at the concentration of 20 <(64.2±4.4)%> or 40 μmol/L <(60.8±(3.9)%>) was significantly higher than that in serum-free group <(48.0±2.8)%> after 72 h in vitro(P<(0.01).) However,Cell viability in haloperidol group at the concentration of 10 <(31.8±3.9)%>,20 <((24.4±1.3)%>,) 40 <(14.3±2.6)%>,60 <(10.5±2.1)%>,or 80 μmol/L <(4.1±1.4)%>,was significantly lower than that in serum-free group(P<0.01).(2) Apoptotic ratios in risperidone group(34.6±2.8)% was significantly lower than that in serum-free group <(50.7±3.1)%;LSD-t=16.0,(P<0.01>) with flow cytometer assay,however,apoptotic ratios in haloperidol group(59.3±5.2)% was significantly higher than that in serum-free group <(50.7±3.1)%;LSD-t=8.6,P<0.01>.The proportion of cells detained at G_1 stage of cell circle in serum-cultured and risperidone groups <(53.5±5.4)% and(71.1±3.7)%,respectively>,were lower than that in serum-free and haloperidol groups <(81.2±(3.0)%)and(82.1±5.7)%,respectively;P<0.01>.(3) More apoptotic cells were observed in serum-free and haloperidol treatment groups,more in the latter,however,few in risperidone treatment group,most of which were characterized by karyopyknosis.Conclusion Risperidone might have neuroprotective effect on neurons through rescuing cells from apoptosis.