Pro-apoptotic effect of methylguanidine on hydrogen peroxide-treated rat glioma cell line

The fluorescent dye FURA 2-AM test showed a significant raise in [Ca2+]i in MG and H2O2 co-treated C6 cells, mainly for depolarizing mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, MG in a concentration-dependent manner, significantly increased H2O2-induced Bax expression, activation of caspase-3 and PARP in C6 cells. This study firstly reports that the uremic catabolyte MG could contribute to neurodegeneration associated to uremia enhancing the pro-apoptotic effect of H2O2 and through an alteration in mitochondrial calcium homeostasis in glial cells.