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.