FIGURE 4.

Activation of ERK1/2 pathway was involved in the neuroprotective effects of lesatropane. (A) lesatropane stimulated activation of ERK1/2 in PC12 cells. Cells were treated with 0.01 μM lesatropane for 5 min, 15 min, 30 min, 12 h, 24 h, then harvested and lysed. The activated ERK1/2 (pERK1/2) and total ERK were determined (Western blotting). (B) The activation of ERK1/2 was measured in PC12 cells which were treated with or without 1 μM atropine or pirenzepine 30 min before addition 0.01 μM lesatropane, then 1 mM glutamate. (C) PC12 cells were pre-treated with U0126 (20 μM) 30 min before addition of 0.01 μM lesatropane, then 1 mM glutamate. Cell viability was quantified using the MTT assay after 48 h. * p<0.01 vs lesatropane group. Data represent the mean ± S.E. of n=5 independent observations.