Desipramine antagonized corticosterone-induced apoptosis in cultured PC12 cells.

Aim: To study possible action mechanism of a tricyclic antidepressant, desipramine (DIM).

Methods: Cultured PC12 cells were exposed to corticosterone in the absence or presence of DIM for 5 d. Agarose gel electrophoresis, flow cytometry, and electron microscopy were used to detect the apoptosis of PC12 cells.

Results: Corticosterone 10 micromol/L treatment for 5 d elicited typical apoptotic biochemical and morphological changes including condensed chromatin shaped like crescent moon, nuclear fragmentation, and DNA degradation. The highest percentage of apoptotic cells accumulated to 28 % +/- 9 %. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed typical DNA ladders pattern. While in the presence of DIM 1 or 5 micromol/L, apoptosis percentage was markedly decreased with lightened DNA ladder and ultrastructure of the cells was improved.

Conclusion: DIM could antagonize the apoptosis in PC12 cells induced by corticosterone, which may be one of the cellular mechanisms of its antidepressant effect.