Oxytocin Promotes C6 Glial Cell Death and Aggravates Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Oxidative Stress

Background. Recent studies have shown that oxytocin plays a vital role in neurons and glial cells. However, its effect on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress as well as cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and COX-2 in glial cells are still unclear. Objective. This study aims to examine the effect of oxytocin on glial cell viability, oxidative stress, COX-1, and COX-2 in C6 glial cells after exposure to H2O2. Methods. In this study, C6 glioma cell line was used to study the effect of oxytocin on the glial cell in four cell groups. The control group was untreated. Cells in the H2O2 group were treated with 0.5 mM H2O2 for 24 h. Cells in the oxytocin group were treated with various concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 μg/mL) of oxytocin for 24 h. Cells in the oxytocin+H2O2 group were pre-treated with various concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 μg/mL) of oxytocin for 1 h before 24-h exposure to 0.5 mM H2O2. Cell viability was evaluated using XTT assay. Total antioxidant status and total oxidant status (TOS), COX-1, and COX-2 levels in the cells were measured by commercial kits. Results. Oxytocin with various concentrations significantly decreased the viability of C6 cells after H2O2-induced oxidative stress (P < 0.01). It also significantly increased the levels of TOS, COX-1, and COX-2 in C6 cells after H2O2-induced oxidative stress (P < 0.001). Conclusion. Oxytocin increases glial cell death after H2O2-induced oxidative damage in C6 cells, along with upregulation of COX-1 and COX-2 levels.