Protective Effect of CPUX1, a Progesterone, on Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Damage in PC12 Cells

The protective effect of CPUX1, a novel progesterone analog, on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative damage was investigated in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Following the exposure of PC12 cells to H2O2, there was a reduction in cell survival and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) accompanied by increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular [Ca2+]i levels. Preincubation of cells with CPUX1 prior to H2O2 exposure attenuated all these changes mentioned and had a protective effect against H2O2-induced toxicity in PC12 cells, indicating that the compound may have potential therapeutic benefit for CNS disorders influenced by oxidative damage. Drug Dev Res 69: 495-501, 2008. (C) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.