Nitric oxide damages neuronal mitochondria and induces apoptosis in neurons

The cytotoxic effect of nitric oxide on primarily cultured rat cerebellar granule cells was studied, and the mechanisms were discussed. The results showed that nitric oxide donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP; 500 μmol/L) could induce apoptosis in immature cultures of cerebellar granule cells. Flow cytometry and HPLC analyses revealed that after treatment with SNAP, the mitochondrial transmembrane potential and the cellular ATP content decreased significantly. Nitric oxide scavenger hemoglobin could effectively prevent the neuronal mitochondria from dysfunction and attenuate apoptosis. The results suggested that nitric oxide activated the apoptotic program by inhibiting the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain and thus decreasing the cellular ATP content.