Resveratrol protects Neuro-2a cells against Thapsigrin-induced damage

Alteration of the calcium homeostasis of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) results in excessive calcium accumulation in cytoplasm, which is one the main causes of neuronal cell death in neurodegenerative disorders. Thapsigargin (TG) is a drug that widely used to induce ER stress by specific inhibition of the ER Ca2+-ATPase. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective potential of resveratrol, a polyphenol phytoalexin compound extracted from spermatophytes, against TG-induced damage in the neuronal-like Neuro-2a cell lines. Cells were treated with DMSO or TG in the presence or absence of resveratrol. Cell viability was detected by methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The results showed that 20 μM resveratrol attenuated TG-induced decrease of cell viability. Thus, resveratrol may play a neuroprotective role in neuronal cells upon ER stress.