Abstract: AIM:To investigate whether NGF and GM₁ have synergistic protective effect on 2, 5-HD intoxi- cation in PC12 cells .METHODS :Cells were divided into control group and treated groups at random .Control group was maintained in normal medium ;treated groups were exposed to 2, 5-HD with or without NGF, GM₁ .The cells' morphological changes were observed by inverted microscope after being dyed with Giemsa .The cell via- bility was determined by MTT assay .The apoptotic ratio was determined by flow cytometry ( FCM) .RESULTS: PC12 cells which was treated by 2, 5-HD injury aggravat- ed, the cell viability decreased ( P <0 .01) , and the ap- optotic ratio increased ( P <0 .01) .PC12 cells pretreated with NGF and GM₁ obviously resisted injury, the cell via- bility increased ( P <0 .05) , apoptotic ratio decreased ( P <0 .05) .Combination of NGF and GM1 afforded addit- ional protection that was greater than that of either agent individually ( P <0 .01) .CONCLUSION:2, 5-HD in- hibited the survival, induced apoptosis and injury of PC12 cells.NGF and GM₁ showed synergistic protective effect on 2, 5-HD intoxication in PC12 cells .

Key words: NGF , ganglioside GM1 , 2, 5-hexanedi- one, synergistic protective effect