Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the toxic effects induced by rotenone on primary cultured astroglia.MethodsRat astroglia were cultured and identified by glial fibrillary acid protein(GFAP).MTT assay and morphological observation were used to evaluate the toxicity of rotenone on astroglia,cell proliferation and the expression of CX43 mRNA were detected by growth curve analysis and RT-PCR.ResultsCell morphology was changed after being exposed to 0.5 μmol/L rotenone for 24 hours;the viability of cell cultures was significantly decreased after being treated with 0.75,1.0 and 2.0 μmol/L rotenone;cell proliferation was inhibited and the expression of CX43 mRNA was suppressed obviously by 0.5 and 1.0 μmol/L rotenone.ConclusionDose-dependent toxic effects on primary cultured astroglia could be induced by being exposed to rotenone,but astroglia have higher tolerance to the same dose of rotenone compared with neurons.