Effects of siRNA DMT−IRE on DMT1−IRE expression and L-DOPA-induced neurontoxicity in cortical neurons.

<p>A and B: Neurons were pre-incubated with siRNA DMT−IRE for 24 hours and Western blots analysis was then performed (A: representative Western blots of DMT1−IRE and β-actin, and B: the relative values of DMT1−IRE protein in neurons infected with or without siRNA DMT−IRE). Data are means±SEM (percentage of control) of four independent experiments performed in triplicate. **P<0.01 vs. the control. C: Neurons were pre-incubated with siRNA DMT−IRE for 24 hours and then treated with different concentrations of L-DOPA (0, 1, 5, 10, 100, 200 µM) in DMEM+5%FBS medium fro 16 hours. The neuronal viability was then determined using an MTT assay. Data are the mean±SEM (percentage of control) of four independent experiments performed in triplicate. *P<0.05, ***P<0.001 vs. the corresponding controls.