Swainsonine-induced apoptosis pathway in cerebral cortical neurons

•Swainsonine is the only toxin of locoweeds, and it can cause the locoism, a chronic neurological disease.•Swainsonine-induced apoptosis of the cerebral cortical neurons was observed for the first time in vitro.•Swainsonine induced the apoptosis of neurons through a death receptor pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Swainsonine (SW) is an indolizidine alkaloid, and the principal toxic component of the poisonous legume plants Astragalus and Oxytropis sp. Animals that consume the toxic plants show neurologic symptoms. In this study, the cerebral cortical neurons of primary culture were treated for 12 h with various concentrations of SW. The [Ca2 +]i and the protein expression of caspase-3, -8, -9 and -12 were assessed in all experimental groups. In comparison with the control group, [Ca2 +]i increased significantly in SW-treated groups (P < 0.05). SW significantly increased the expression of activated protein caspase-3, -8 and -12 (P < 0.05), while caspase-9 did not change (P > 0.05). The results suggest that SW induced the apoptosis of neurons through a death receptor pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress.