Background: Nitric oxide (NO•) is known to be both neurotoxic and neuroprotective. There are three redox-related species: neutral NO•, the nitroxyl anion (NO-) and the nitrosonium cation(NO+).
Subjects and Interventions: Differentiated PC12 cells were treated with increasing concentrations (0.001 to 5 mM) of NO•, NO+, and NO-, in the presence or absence of nerve growth factor(NGF).
Results: Low concentrations (up to 100 μM) of NO• and NO+ inhibited apoptosis after NGF withdrwal, while NO- did not. In the presence of NGF, higher concentrations (above 300 μM) of NO• and NO+ induced apoptosis while NO- treatment resulted in necrosis.
Conclusion: Nitric oxide can be neuroprotective or neurotoxic, depending on the redox state of the molecule. NO• and NO+ induce apoptosis, while NO- induces necrosis in PC12 cells.
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Kayahara, M., Hughes, M., Edwards, A. et al. Differential Effects of Nitric Oxide Species on Pc12 Cell Survival. Pediatr Res 42, 411 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199709000-00178
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199709000-00178