Effects of 2,5-hexanedione on NGF expression in motor and sensory neuronal cells of rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of 2,5-Hexanedione (2,5-HD), a metabolite of n-hexane,on nerve growth factor (NGF) expression in motor and sensory neuronal cells of peripheral nervous system of rats. METHODS: Primary cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons were obtained from new born rats on day 4. The cell line VSC4.1 were cultured. The growth condition of cells were observed with a phase contrast microscope. Immunohistochemistry technology was used to analyze the NGF expression in both VSC4.1 cells and primary cultured DRG cells treated with 4 different dosages of 2, 5-HD (2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 mmol/L) respectively for 24 hours. RESULTS: The NGF expression decreased significantly in both DRG neurons and VSC4.1 cells dosed respectively with 5.0,10.0,20.0 mmol/L 2,5-HD in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05), with a tendency of dose-effect correlation. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that 2,5-HD can decrease the endogenous NGF levels in both cultured DRG sensory neurons and VSC4.1 motor neuron cells of rats.