Improvement of mitochondrial function and dynamics by the metabolic enhancer piracetam in a human neuronal cell model of early Alzheimer's disease

Improvement of mitochondrial function and dynamics by the metabolic enhancer piracetam

“…In HEK ut cells, a predominance of tubular and truncated mitochondria show up, whereas in rotenonetreated cells the proportion of punctate mitochondria strongly increases (Figure 1). To confirm our findings in a neuronal cell line, we used SY5Y cells, which responded similarly to complex I inhibition by rotenone with a large increase in punctate mitochondria and a substantial decrease in elongated mitochondria (Table 2) [20]. However, cells substantially responded to piracetam treatment after an insult with rotenone in a concentration-dependent manner, where piracetam-treated cells show mitochondrial shape distribution similar to the HEK ut control cells (Figure 1).…”

“…However, cells substantially responded to piracetam treatment after an insult with rotenone in a concentration-dependent manner, where piracetam-treated cells show mitochondrial shape distribution similar to the HEK ut control cells (Figure 1). These cells have previously been shown to exhibit many features of mitochondrial dysfunction by an elevated Aβ production of approximately 2-fold [20]. Again, piracetam treatment using the same concentration reversed this effect nearly back to normal (Table 2).…”

“…We have recently shown [6] that brain aging via enhanced oxidative stress and the typical histopathological alterations in AD synergistically impair mitochondrial function [8,16] [20]. Pre-incubation with piracetam (Pira, 1000 μM) for 48 h partially reversed this shape change (C. Stockburger, K. Leuner and W.E.…”