Abstract: Objective To screen the natural compounds inhibiting prolactinomas MMQ cells with quantitative imaging flow cytometry, and observe the changes of prolactin levels. Methods Treated with 10 natural compounds to MMQ cells for 24 hours, cell morphology and apoptotic cells were determined by imaging flow cytometry. The medium prolactin level was measured by ELISA method. Cleaved Caspase 3 level was determined by Western blot method. Results Allylisothiocyante, tangeretin and xanthohumol screened from 10 natural compounds could effectively induce the MMQ cells apoptosis. After 24 hours treatment, the prolactin levels reduce to 48.3±13.2, 52.7±12.6 and 34.7±8.2 pg·mL-1, respectively, and 107.3±22.7 pg·mL-1 in control group. Western blot experiment showed the cleaved Caspase 3 level obviously increase after tangeretin and xanthohumol treatment (P<0.01). Conclusion Imaging flow cytometry has the advantage of combination of quantitative data analysis and fluorescent image, and allylisothiocyante, tangeretin and xanthohumol could be candidate drug for the prolactinomas treatment.

Key words: imaging flow cytometry, prolactinomas, drug screening, apoptosis