Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effect and its mechanism of Rg_2 in anoxic cultured
hippocampal neuronal cells
in newborn rats. Methods Anoxic cultured
hippocampal neuronal cells of newborn rats were divided into control group,nimodipine group(5 μmol/L),Rg_2 1(0.025 mmol/L) group and Rg_2 2(0.050 mmol/L) group.The activities of the neurons were tested by trypan blue staining.The morphological changes were observed by Giemsa staining.The concentration of cellular free calcium in the cells was tested by Fluorescence spectrophotometer(Fura-2). Results In vitro,compared with the control group,nimodipine and Rg_2 significantly increased the activities of hippocampal neuronal cells,decreased the apoptosis rate and the concentration of cellular free calcium in the cells,and the most effective in Rg_2 0.050 mmol/L group. Conclusion The Rg_2 could protect hippocampal neuronal cells against anoxia by decreasing the concentration of cellular free calcium in the cells to inhibit the cell death.