Experimental study on the neurotoxic effect of β-amyloid on the cytoskeleton of PC12 cells

The aim of the present study was to establish a cell model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and investigate the neurotoxic effects of β-amyloid (Aβ) on the cytoskeleton. PC12 cells were cultured and treated with Aβ(25-35), and cell survival was analyzed with the MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was visualized using 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling assay. Immunocytochemistry and phalloidin staining were used to label the cytoskeleton of PC12 cells. Aβ(25-35) was found to induce PC12 cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05). Moreover, Aβ(25-35) also caused dose-dependent disintegration of the cytoskeleton (P<0.05). Therefore, the PC12 cell cytoskeleton was found to be sensitive to Aβ(25-35) neurotoxicity. The disintegration of the cytoskeleton is likely an important pathological alteration in AD, and Aβ is a key molecule involved in AD pathogenesis.