Fig. 2

Dexmedetomidine inhibited lung apoptosis induced by IR in mice. C57B/6J mice were pre-treated with dexmedetomidine (Dex) alone or in combination with α2-adrenoceptor antagonist atipamezole (Atip) followed by clamping of the bilateral renal pedicle for 60 min and reperfusion for 24 h. a Apoptosis in the lungs was assessed by a TUNEL assay. b Quantitative analysis of apoptotic cells in kidneys. c Representative western blotting results and quantitative analysis of cleaved caspase-3 in lung tissues. The scale bars in all images represent 50 μm. All data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 6). **p < 0.01 versus sham group, ^#p < 0.05 versus IR group. HPF means high-power field