Lidocaine, an anesthetic drug, protects Neuro2A cells against cadmium toxicity

Purpose: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of lidocaine in Neuro2A cells Methods: Differentiated N2a cells were used in this study. Cell viability and neuroprotection were assessed using dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and trypan blue assays, while Bax/Bcl-2 expression was assayed by western blotting. Mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species and calcium levels were measured using flow cytometry. Results: Lidocaine protected differentiated N2a cells against cadmium-induced toxicity, and also attenuated cadmium toxicity-induced changes in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium (Ca2+) levels. Furthermore, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, which was disrupted by cadmium, and cadmium-induced apoptosis, were reversed by lidocaine. Conclusion: Lidocaine protects differentiated N2a cells against cadmium-induced toxicity by reversing apoptosis. Thus, lidocaine is a potential neuroprotective agent.