Abstract: 【Objective】 To investigate the effect of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) on hypoxia preconditioning(Hyp) with its special inhibitor-Compound C. 【Methods】 MTT assay an Western blot were used to select the suitable Compound C concentration. Cells with Compound C or without Compound C were divided into control

hypoxia preconditioning+Oxygen-glucose deprivation (Hyp+OGD) and OGD respectively. MTT assay was used to test the cell viability. The ATP level was evaluated using ATP Fluorometric Assay Kit. The expression of AMPK

Peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and phosphorylated-AMPK (P-AMPK) were assessed at the protein level by Western blot. 【Results】 After OGD

the cell activity decreased more in Compound C compared with non-Compound C (0.418±0.002 vs 0.640±0.028

P < 0.01)

but were increased in Hyp+OGD respectively (P < 0.05). After adding Compound C

the cell activity decreased 3.5% in control (P=0.473)

34.6% in OGD (P < 0.01) and 21.1% in Hyp+OGD (P < 0.05). After OGD

the ATP levels decreased more in Compound C compared with non-Compound C (0.042±0.001 vs 0.051±0.001

P < 0.05)

but were increased 21.5% and 28.0% in Hyp+OGD respectively (P < 0.05). The expression of AMPK had no statistical difference in the three groups of Compound C compared with non-Compound C respectively (P > 0.05).After OGD

the expression of P-AMPKα were increased significantly in Compound C and non-Compound C compared with its control (P < 0.05). After preconditioning

the expression of P-AMPKα were increased in non-Compound C compared with OGD (P < 0.05)

while had no statistical difference in Compound C compared with OGD (P = 0.935 > 0.005). The expression of PGC-1α were declined significantly in the three groups of Compound C compared with non-Compound C respectively (P < 0.01)

it decreased 68.1% in control

24.7% in Hyp+OGD and 39.6% in OGD

but were both increased in Hyp+OGD and OGD compared with control (P < 0.05)

and were increased more in Hyp+OGD compared with OGD (P < 0.05). 【Conclusion】 The expression of PGC-1α were decreased with Compound C (a special inhibitor of AMPK) and AMPK was one of the ways that hypoxia preconditioning or hypoxia up regulated the expression of PGC-1α.