Cytoprotective Effect of Echinochrome A in Primary Culture of Pulmonary Fibroblasts from Albino Rats under Conditions of Oxidative Stress

We studied the effect of echinochrome A on the primary culture of pulmonary fibroblasts under normal conditions and under oxidative stress. Exposure to echinochrome A (100 mu M, 6 h) did not affect the production of superoxide radical by fibroblasts, area of their nuclei, and number of nucleoli, but reduced the total area of nucleolar organizer regions against the background of stable proliferative activity of the culture. Two-hour oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide solution (60 mu M) increased the generation of superoxide radical, decreased DNA-synthetic activity of fibroblasts, area of fibroblast nuclei, and total area of nucleolar organizer regions. Preliminary administration of echinochrome A significantly attenuated the damaging effect of oxidative stress: the intensity of production of superoxide radicals decreased, DNA-synthetic activity and nucleus area of fibroblasts partially recovered; normalization of the total area of nucleoli was accompanied by an increase in their number.