Signal transduction pathway of nitric oxide inducing PC12 cell death

Objective:: To study signal transduction pathway of nitric oxide inducing death of PC12 cells. Methods: Cell survival rate was measured with MTT assay, and caspase-3 activity with caspase-3 assay kits after PC12 cells were incubated with sodium nitroprusside (SNP), caspase-3 inhibitor Ⅱ plus SNP or p38 inhibitor-SB203580 plus SNP. Results: SNP induced death of PC12 cells in dose- and time-dependent manner and enhanced caspase-3 activity gradually. Both caspase-3 inhibitor Ⅱ and SB203580 reduced cell death, but SB203580 reduced caspase-3 activity significantly. Conclusions: NO may induce death of PC12 cells through activation of p38 and caspase-3.