Protective effect of insulin and glucose at different concentrations on penicillin-induced astrocyte death on the primer astroglial cell line

Abstract

Astrocytes perform many functions in the brain and spinal cord. Glucose metabolism is important for astroglial cells and astrocytes are the only cells with insulin receptors in the brain. The common antibiotic penicillin is also a chemical agent that causes degenerative effect on neuronal cell. The aim of this study is to show the effect of insulin and glucose at different concentrations on the astrocyte death induced by penicillin on primer astroglial cell line. It is well known that intracranial penicillin treatment causes neuronal cell death and it is used for experimental epilepsy model commonly. Previous studies showed that insulin and glucose might protect neuronal cell in case of proper concentrations. But, the present study is about the effect of insulin and glucose against astrocyte death induced by penicillin. For this purpose, newborn rat brain was extracted and then mechanically dissociated to astroglial cell suspension and finally grown in culture medium. Clutters were maintained for 2 weeks prior to being used in these experiments. Different concentrations of insulin (0, 1, 3 nM) and glucose (0, 3, 30 mM) were used in media without penicillin and with 2 500 µM penicillin. Penicillin decreased the viability of astroglial cell seriously. The highest cell viability appeared in medium with 3 nM insulin and 3 mM glucose but without penicillin. However, in medium with penicillin, the best cell survival was in medium with 1 nM insulin but without glucose. We concluded that insulin and glucose show protective effects on the damage induced by penicillin to primer astroglial cell line. Interestingly, cell survival depends on concentrations of insulin and glucose strongly. The results of this study will help to explain cerebrovascular pathologies parallel to insulin and glucose conditions of patient after intracranial injuries. © 2012, Editorial Board of Neural Regeneration Research. All rights reserved.