Objective:To observe the neuroprotective mechanism of astrocytes after oxidative stress injury by up-regulating endogenous gap junction protein alpha 1 truncated monomer- 20k(GJA1-20k)of neurons. Methods:Neurons and astrocytes were obtained from C57BL/6 fetal mice by primary culture method,and co-culture model was established. Neurons were injured by hydrogen peroxide(H2O2),insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1)receptor blocker AG1024 was given to astrocytes,respectively. Thus,Neuron+Astrocyte+Stress group and Neuron+Astrocyte+Stress+AG1024 group were established. Meanwhile,Neuron(Neuron alone without treatment)group and Neuron+Stress group(separately cultured Neuron given with H2O2)were also set up as control groups. The changes of GJA1-20k,non-phosphorylated(NP)-Cx43,glutamate transporter-1(GLT-1),mitochondrial function-related proteins(PGC-1α,mtTFA,Tom20,CoxⅣ),apoptosis-related proteins(Bcl-2,Bax,Caspases-9)were measured by Western blot. The oxidative stress factor NAPDH oxidase activity,inflammatory factors interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were detected by ELFA and ELISA,apoptosis of neurons was measured by Annexin V-FITC/PI assay,respectively. Results:Astrocytes co-culture significantly up-regulated the expression of endogenous GJA1-20k and NP-Cx43,reversed the down-regulation of PGC-1α,mtTFA,Tom20 and CoxⅣ,up-regulated apoptotic inhibitor Bcl-2,down-regulated apoptotic promoter Bax,Caspase-9,and reduced the expression of NAPDH oxidase activity and inflammatory products IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α(P < 0.05). The protective effect of astrocytes on neurons was significantly inhibited by AG1024(P < 0.05). Conclusion:The protective mechanism of astrocyte on neuron associated with IGF-1 may be related to the increase of endogenous GJA1-20k and protection of mitochondria function in neurons.