Peroxide mediates ethanol-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells

Pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell cultures exhibited a loss of cells and increas e in intracellular oxidative stress when exposed to ethanol (EtOH) for 24 h . Catalase, an enzyme that hydrolyzes hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to O-2 and H 2O can attenuate EtOH-induced cell loss and oxidative stress in PC12 cells. This study provides the first clear evidence that oxidative stress in the form of elevated intracellular H2O2 is a primary mechanism of EtOH neurotox icity in PC12 cells. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc.