BACKGROUND: Evidence illustrates that androgen has a neuroprotective role.However,whether androgen also has the protective effect on hippocampal neurons during free radical mediated injury remains unclear.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of androgen on hippocampal neurons during free radical damage.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING: A controlled in vitro experiment was performed at the Department of Human Anatomy,Cell Culture Lab,and Neuroendocrinology Lab,Basic Medical School,Hebei Medical University from February to June 2009.MATERIALS: Testosterone was provided by Tianjin Jinyao Amino Acid Company,China.METHODS: Primary cultured neurons from 24 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups: control,H2O2,testosterone,and testosterone (pre-added) plus H2O2 groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The positive cell ratio of microtubule associated protein-II and neuron specific enolase was determined by immunocytochemistry.Neuronal morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining.Cell vitality and viability were determined using an inverted phase contrast microscope.The content of nitric oxide synthase,malondialdehyde,and superoxide dismutase were measured with a spectrophotometer.RESULTS: As compared with the control group,cell vitality and viability,and superoxide dismutase level were significantly decreased in the H2O2 group (P < 0.05),while nitric oxide synthase and malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased (P < 0.05).Neuronal vitality and viability as well as superoxide dismutase level in the testosterone plus H2O2 group were significantly greater than in the H2O2 group (P < 0.05),and nitric oxide synthase and malondialdehyde levels were significantly less than in the H2O2 group (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Androgen partially reversed H2O2-induced neuronal damage and protected neurons. BACKGROUND: Evidence illustrates that androgen has a neuroprotective role. Whether androgen also has the protective effect on hippocampal neurons during free radical mediated injury remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the neuroprotective effect of androgen on hippocampal neurons during free radical damage. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A controlled in vitro experiment was performed at the Department of Human Anatomy, Cell Culture Lab, and Neuroendocrinology Lab, Basic Medical School, Hebei Medical University from February to June 2009. MAIALIALS: Testosterone was provided by Tianjin Jinyao Amino Acid Company , China.METHODS: Primary cultured neurons from 24 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups: control, H2O2, testosterone, and testosterone (pre-added) plus H2O2 groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The positive cell ratio of microtubule associated protein- II and neuron specific enolase was determined by immunocytochemistry. Neuronal morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eos in staining and Nissl staining. Cell vitality and viability were determined using an inverted phase contrast microscope. The content of nitric oxide synthase, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase were measured with a spectrophotometer .RESULTS: As compared with the control group, cell vitality and viability , and superoxide dismutase level were significantly decreased in the H2O2 group (P <0.05), while nitric oxide synthase and malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased (P <0.05) .Neuronal vitality and viability as well as superoxide dismutase level in the testosterone plus H2O2 group were significantly greater than in the H2O2 group (P <0.05), and nitric oxide synthase and malondialdehyde levels were significantly less than in the H2O2 group (P <0.05) .CONCLUSION: Andarbunsional H2O2-induced neuronal damage and protected neurons.