nimodipine protects pc12 cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation

the protective effect of a l-type calcium channel blocker, nimodipine, on cell injury induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (ogd) in pc12 cells was investigated. pc12 cells were exposed to in-vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation (30 minutes and 60 minutes respectively) in the presence or absence of nimodipine (10mm/l) in three different time schedules (pre-24h, pre-3h and concurrently). cellular viability was assessed by mtt assay. ogd-induced cell injury was significantly attenuated by nimodipine in all three treatment schedules. application of mk801 (10mm/l), an antagonist of nmda glutamate receptors also inhibited pc12 cell death by ogd method. our study suggests that nimodipine has protective effects against ogd-induced neurotoxicity.