Enhanced Neuroplasticity by the Metabolic Enhancer Piracetam Associated with Improved Mitochondrial Dynamics and Altered Permeability Transition Pore Function

Figure 3

Piracetam improves neurite outgrowth under normal conditions and after oxidative stress in PC12 cells. (a) Representative pictures of PC12 cells treated with 50 µM sodium nitroprusside (SNP) for 24 or 48 hours and 1 mM piracetam (Pira). (b) PC12 cells treated with piracetam (Pira) exhibit significantly longer neurites. When cells were additionally treated with SNP, piracetam (Pira) is able to diminish neurite shortening. (c) In parallel, PC12 cells treated with piracetam possess slightly elevated GAP43 levels. PC12 cells were differentiated with nerve growth factor (50 ng/mL) for 72 hours and were incubated with piracetam (1 mM) in parallel. SNP (50 µM) was added for the last 24 or 48 hours, respectively. Cells were fixed for analysis of neurite outgrowth or harvested for western blot analysis. (d) Representative western blot analysis of GAP43 in PC12 cells treated with different concentrations of Pira and/or SNP. GAPDH was used as loading control. Data are represented as mean ± SEM; One-Way ANOVA with Tukey’s Multiple Comparison test (, , and compared to untreated control cells; compared to SNP treated cells); = 6–10.

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