Effects of EGB761 on primary cultures of embryonic rat mesencephalic cells

    XI Shuª²Fang1, CHEN Jianª²Zong1, YANG Hao2, KANG Xiaoª²Gang1, TIAN Jiª²Yu1

    1Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western

    Medicine on Elderly Encephalopathy, Xijing Hospital, 2PLA Institute of Neurobiology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate the effects of the ginkgo biloba extract (EGB761) on the primarily cultured neuronal cells from embryonic rat mesencephalon. METHODS: Primarily cultured neurons were prepared from embryonic rat mesencephalon after treated with EGB761 and NGF in different deliveries in vitro. Mesencephalic cells were observed and their viability was assessed by MTT assay and the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive cells was counted with immunocytochemical staining. Eventually, the number of positive cells and their neurites of outgrowth were compared between different groups. RESULTS: The number of THª²positive cells and the viability of mesencephalic cells were significantly higher in EGB761 or positive control groups than those in the control groups (P<0.05). But there was no markedly difference between the experimental groups and the NGF groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EGB761 may have some protective effect on mesencephalic cultured cells from rat embryos. ......