Objective: To prepare an apoptosis cell model of Alzheimer Disease (AD) by PC-12 cells treated with β-amyloid protein (Aβ). Methods: PC-12 cells were incubated with different concentrations of Aβ25-35 for different duration in vitro. The cell viability was detected by MTT assay. Morphological features of apoptosis were analyzed, with Hoechst 33258/ Propidium iodide dual staining, The level of intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) was calculated by Fura-2/AM fluorescence ratio imaging. Results: ① The viability of PC-12 cells was significantly decreased in proportion to concentration of Aβ25-35 and duration of exposure to Aβ25-35. ② The apoptotic cells appeared in a time and concentration-dependent manner, and the maximal apoptosis happened at 48 h after exposure to 20 μmol/L of Aβ25-35 and 36 h to 30 μmol/L, Cell death reached the peak at 12-24 h later than the apoptotic peak. (3) [Ca2+]i of PC-12 cells was increased in proportion to duration of exposure to the same concentration of Aβ25-35. The time of the highest increase rate of [Ca2+]i was about 12 h earlier than that of apoptosis. Conclusion: An AD cell model using the PC-12 cells induced with Aβ25-35 displays a series of changes related to apoptosis, which may be related to elevation of [Ca2+]i.
