ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of deferoxamine preconditioning against hypoxia injury in astrocytes and the underlying mechanisms. MethodsAstrocytes were cultured under ischemia stress, which was mimicked by oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) with deferoxamine. Astrocytes were divided into three groups: normally cultured group; Deferoxamine pretreated group: astrocytes were pretreated with Deferoxamine and then treated with Deferoxamine OGD; and OGD group; astrocytes were treated with Deferoxamine OGD. The cell viability examination, the ratio of condensed nuclei, and the morphological changes were used to assess the protective effect of deferoxamine. The expression of HIF-1α and EPO protein and mRNA in astrocytes was examined by immunofluorescence staining and RT-PCR, respectively. ResultsThe morphology of AS in the deferoxamine pretreated group kept intact. AS viability in deferoxamine pretreated group was 58% of the normally cultured group, and that in the OGD group was 25% of the normally cultured group (P<0.05). The ratio of condensed nuclei in deferoxamine pretreated group was 38% and that in OGD group was 30%(P<0.05).Immunofluorescence staining found that expression HIF-1α, and EPO protein appeared in cultured astrocytes after deferoxamine pretreatment. RT-PCR confirmed that mRNA of HIF-1α and EPO was up-regulated after deferoxamine pretreatment. ConclusionDeferoxamine preconditioning can protect the astrocytes from hypoxia damage, which is related to deferoxamine-induced increase of HIF-1α and EPO expression.