Abstract: AIM: To explore the possible mechanism of nitric oxide-induced PC12 cells apoptosis and the pro-tective effect of paeoniflorin.METHODS: Cell survival was detected by MTT and lactate dehydrogenase detec-tion.DNA fragmentation was observed by gels electro-phoresis.Apoptotic cells and mitochondral transmembrane potentiall were observed by flow cytometry in PC12 cells.RESULTS: 500μmol·L^-1of SNPinduced PC12 cells apoptosis.Paeoniflorin decreased nitric oxide induced PC12 cells apoptotic rate and increased mitochondrial transmembrane potential.CONCLUSION: Paeoniflorin can inhibit nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells.The mechanism is related to preventing loss of MMPin PC12 cells.

Key words: paeoniflorin, nitric oxide, apoptosis, mitochondrial, PC12 cell