Objective To determine the effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 （IGF-1） on the expression of preprotachykinin （PPT） mRNA encoding substance P （SP） and calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） mRNA in cultured dorsal root ganglion （DRG） neurons with excitotoxicity induced by glutamate （Glu）. Methods DRGs were dissected from embryonic day 15 Wistar rats. DRG neurons were dissociated and cultured for 48 h and then exposed to Glu （0.2 mmol/L） or Glu （0.2 mmol/L） plus IGF- 1 （5 nmol/L, 10 nmol/L and 20 nmol/L） for 12 h. The DRG neurons in control group were exposed to only growth media throughout the experiment. After that, the living DRG neurons were observed under inverted phase contrast microscope and microphotographs were taken. The expression levels of PPT and CGRP mRNAs were detected by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. Results IGF-1 could inhibit Glu-induced shortening of neurite. Besides, IGF-1 could significantly increase the levels ofPPT mRNA and CGRP mRNA in primary cultured DRG neurons with Glu-induced excitotoxicity, in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion IGF-1 may exert neuroprotective effects on DRG neurons against Glu-induced excitotoxicity, probably through regulating the expression levels of PPT and CGRP mRNAs.
