Figure 4

mRNA expressions of apoptosis-related genes and number of apoptotic cells in brain infarct area. (A) Bcl-2 mRNA expression was significantly higher in groups 1 and 3 than in group 2 and notably higher in group 1 than in group 3. (B) Bax mRNA expression was notably higher in group 2 than in groups 1 and 3 and significantly higher in group 3 than in group 1. (C) Caspase 3 mRNA significantly higher in groups 2 and 3 than in group 1, but it did not differ between group 2 and group 3. (D) IL-8/Gro mRNA expression was remarkably higher in groups 2 and 3 than in group 1 and notably higher in group 3 than in group 2. * vs. †, p < 0.05; * vs. ‡, p < 0.05; † vs. ‡, p < 0.05. The number of apoptotic nuclei (H)) (400×) significantly higher in group 2 (F) than in groups 1 (G) and 3 (E), and notably higher in group 3 than in group 1. (n = 10 per group) * vs. † vs. ‡, p < 0.001. Scale bar in right lower corner represent 20 μm.