Alpha and beta estradiol protect neuronal but not native PC12 cells from paraquat-induced oxidative stress

Oxidative stress is currently considered a mediator of cell death in several neurodegenerative diseases. Notably, it may play an important role in the degeneration of dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra in Parkinson’s disease. We examined the effect of a strong oxidant, the herbicide paraquat, on cell distress using native and neuronal pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. Paraquat administration for 8 hours induced a significant cellular death in both native and in neuronal PC12 cells. Since the anti-oxidant properties of estrogens may promote neuroprotectionin vitro andin vivo, we then investigated the ability of estradiol stereoisomers, 17α-estradiol and 17β-estradiol, to rescue PC12 cells submitted to paraquat-induced oxidative stress. Our results show a protective effect of both estradiol stereoisomers in neuronal PC12 cells treated with paraquat, whereas this effect could not be observed in native PC12 cells. We also demonstrate that estrogen receptor β protein expression is modulated by paraquat administration in native PC12 cells, while paraquat does not change estrogen receptor β expression in neuronal PC12 cells. Paraquat also decreases estrogen receptor α in neuronal PC12 cells, thus suggesting new routes for paraquat to collapse cellular metabolism. Besides, the oxidation of dihydrodhodamine-123 into fluorescent rhodamine in the presence of paraquat but not in presence of paraquat and 17α-estradiol or 17β-estradiol,sustain a possible direct scavenging role of both estradiol stereoisomers.