Figure 3 | Scientific Reports

Figure 3

From: Melatonin ameliorates restraint stress-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in testicular cells via NF-κB/iNOS and Nrf2/ HO-1 signaling pathway

Figure 3

Effects of melatonin (M) on chronic stress-induced apoptosis of testicular cells and apoptotic cascade in testes. (A) Testicular cells apoptosis was detected by TUNEL staining (Bar = 100 μm). The arrow shows apoptotic testicular cells in seminiferous tubules. (B) Percentages of seminiferous tubules with more than six TUNEL+ cells (n = 5). (C) The protein levels of BAX, Bcl2, and cleaved caspase 3 were detected by Western blot (n = 5). (D) The ratio of pro-apoptotic protein BAX over anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 (n = 5). (E) Cleaved caspase 3 protein level was analyzed (n = 5). ACTB protein level served as the internal reference. All data are presented as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05 vs. control group; **P < 0.01 vs. control group; ***P < 0.001 vs. control group; #P < 0.05 vs. stress group; ##P < 0.01 vs. stress group. Control, non-stress treated with saline; Control+M, non-stress treated with melatonin; Stress, stress treated with saline; Stress+M, stress treated with melatonin.

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