The protective effects of chitooligosaccharides against glucose deprivation-induced cell apoptosis in cultured cortical neurons through activation of PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK1/2 pathways

►Chitooligosaccharides (COSs) are the degradation product of chitosan. ►COSs protect cultured cortical neurons from glucose deprivation-induced apoptosis. ►Effects of COSs are via stabilizing mitochondrial membrane potentials. ►Effects of COSs are via increasing Bcl-2/Bax ratio and reducing caspase-3 activation. ►Activation of PI3K/Akt and MEK/ERK1/2 pathways is involved in effects of COSs.