[Antagonism of tert-butylhydroquinone on neurotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by paraquat in PC12].

Objective: To investigate the protective effects of the tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ) pretreatment on neurotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by paraquat (PQ) in PC12 cells.

Methods: Cytotoxicity of PC12 cells was measured by MTT assay, following the PC12 cells treatment with different concentrations of 100, 300 micromol/L PQ for 24 h and 48 h. PC12 cells were pretreated with or without 40 micromol/L tBHQ for 4 h, PC12 cells were exposed to PQ at the doses of 0, 100, 300 micromol/L for 24 h and 48 h, respectively.