Figure 4: Shikonin reduced apoptosis in hepatic I/R injury. | Scientific Reports

Figure 4: Shikonin reduced apoptosis in hepatic I/R injury.

From: The protective effects of shikonin on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury are mediated by the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway

Figure 4

(A) The mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase 9, and caspase 3 was measured by RT-PCR and expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 6, *P < 0.05 for I/R versus NC, #P < 0.05 for I/R + Shikonin [7.5 mg/kg] versus I/R, +P < 0.05 for I/R + Shikonin [12.5 mg/kg] versus I/R). (B) The protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, caspase 9, and caspase 3 was detected by western blotting and the gray values were calculated (n = 6, *P < 0.05 for I/R versus NC, #P < 0.05 for I/R + Shikonin [7.5 mg/kg] versus I/R, +P < 0.05 for I/R + Shikonin [12.5 mg/kg] versus I/R). (C) Immunohistochemical staining showing the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase 3 at 6 h. The ratio of brown areas to the total area was analyzed (n = 6, *P < 0.05 for I/R versus NC, #P < 0.05 for I/R + Shikonin versus I/R). (D) TUNEL staining (×200) of liver tissues at 6 h to detect apoptotic cell (n = 6, *P < 0.05 for I/R versus NC, #P < 0.05 for I/R + Shikonin versus I/R).

Back to article page