The Protective Effects of Insulin on Hydrogen Peroxide- Induced Oxidative Stress in C6 Glial Cells

Insulin appears to play a role in brain physiology, and disturbances of cerebral insulin signalling and glucose homeostasis are implicated in brain pathology. The objective of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of insulin under conditions of oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in C6 glial cells. Insulin at concentration of 10−7 M could prevent 12 h H2O2-induced cell death. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO) and 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were significantly scavenged by insulin pre-treatment in C6 glial cells after H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Insulin significantly stimulated the phosphorylation of Akt in the cells and the activation of Akt was maintained in response to insulin under H2O2 incubation for 12 h. In conclusion, these results provide evidence that insulin acts as a free radical scavenger and stimulating Akt activity. These data suggest that insulin may be effective in degenerative diseases with oxidative stress.