Staurosporine (ST) induces apoptotic cell death of Neuro 2A cells, which is significantly inhibited by prior enrichment with DHA, but not oleic and arachidonic acids. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitors, wortmanin, and LY-294002 abolished the protective effect of DHA. The extent of the antiapoptotic effect of DHA is mediated at least in part through the PI3-K/Akt pathway, facilitated by DHA-induced PS accumulation. Akbar M, Kim HY. Protective effects of docosahexaenoic acid in staurosporine-induced apoptosis: involvement of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase pathway. J Neurochem 2002 Aug; 82(3): 655-65
DHA enrichment increased PS in cultured neuronal cells and protected against apoptotic cell death (cell suicide) in a subsequent absence of growth factors. Kim HY, Akbar M, Lau A, Edsall L. Inhibition of neuronal apoptosis by docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3): Role of phosphatidylserine in antiapoptotic effect. J Biol Chem 2000; M004446200