Objective: Study the effect of cryptotanshinone(CTS) on the survival of in PC12 cells promoted by insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) and possible mechanisms. Method: The serum deprivation model was constructed to determine the dose of IGF-1 to play the survival-promoting effect

then pretreat PC12 cells with different concentrations of CTS

then treated with IGF-1 processing 24 hours

MTT assay was used to detect the effect of CTS on protective function of IGF-1.The effect of CTS and IGF-1 on the phosphorylation level of IGF-1 receptar(IGF-1R) were analyzed by Western blot and downstream targets were also detected such as protein kinase B(Akt) and extracellular signal regulated kinase(ERK). Result: After treatment with IGF-1

cell viability of PC12 cells was increased in a dose-dependent manner as same as the phosphorylation level of IGF-1R

whereas CTS attenuated the survival promoting effect of IGF-1 in PC12 cells and decreased the phosphorylated IGF-1R. Moreover

CTS attenuated the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2 induced by IGF-1in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: These data indicate that CTS has an inhibitory effect on PC12 cells viability via down-regulate the phosphorylation of IGF-1R and downstream Akt and ERK.