C-3-fullero-tris-methanodicarboxylic acid protects cerebellar granule cells from apoptosis

Buckminsterfullerenols were recently investigated for their protective prop erties in different models of acute and chronic neurodegeneration. We teste d C-3-fullero-tris-methanodicarboxylic acid in our in vitro model of apopto tic neuronal death, which consists of shifting the culture K+ concentration from 25 to 5 mM for rat cerebellar granule cells. The impairment of mitoch ondrial respiratory function as well as chromatin derangement and fragmenta tion of DNA in apoptotic oligonucleosomes that occur in these conditions we re protected by this compound in a concentration-dependent way. To assess w hether antioxidant activity could account for the rescue of cerebellar gran ule cells from apoptosis, we tested the fullerene derivative under FeSO4-in duced oxidative stress and found significant protection. Thus, we visualize d membrane and cytoplasmic peroxides and reactive oxygen species and found a significant reduction of the species after 24 h in 5 mM K+ with the fulle rene derivative. Such evidence suggests that this compound exerts a protect ive role in cerebellar granule cell apoptosis, likely reducing the oxidativ e stress.