Effect of cholecystokinin on experimental neuronal aging.

AIM To observe the effect of cholecystokinin (CCK) on lipofusin value, neuronal dendrite and spine ultrastructure, and total cellular protein during the process of experimental neuronal aging. METHODS Experimental neuronal aging study model was established by NBA2 cellular serum-free culture method. By using single intracellular lipofusin value from microspectrophotometry, morphology of neuronal dendrites and spines from the scanner electron microscopy, and total cellular protein as the indexes of experimental neuronal aging, we observed the effect of CCK8 on the process of experimental neuronal aging. RESULTS Under the condition of serum-free culture, intracellular fluorescence value (%) increased with the extension of culture time (1 d 8.51+/-3.43; 5 d 10.12+/-3.03; 10 d 20.54+/-10.3; 15 d 36.88+/-10.49; (b)P<0.01). When CCK was added to serum-free culture medium, intracellular lipofusin value (%) decreased remarkably after consecutive CCK reaction for 10 and 15 d (control 36.88+/-10.49; 5 d 32.03+/-10.01; 10 d 14.37+/-5.55; 15 d 17.31+/-4.80; (b)P<0.01). As the time of serum-free culturing was prolonged, the number of neuronal dendrite and spine cells decreased. The later increased in number when CCK8 was added. CCK8 could improve the total cellular protein in the process of experimental neuronal aging. CONCLUSION CCK8 may prolong the process of experimental neuronal aging by maintaining the structure and the number of neuronal dendrite and spine cells and changing the total cellular protein.