Pretreatment with Pancaspase Inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK) Delays but Does Not Prevent Intraperitoneal Heat-Killed Group B Streptococcus-Induced Preterm Delivery in a Pregnant Mouse Model
Figure 3
Intrauterine HK-GBS injection leads to caspase 3 activation in the membranes and placenta. Day 14.5 timed pregnant mice were injected with either PBS or HK-GBS and euthanized at 5 or 14 hours to isolate fetal membranes (a–c) and placentas (d–f). Caspase 3 activation was assessed by performing immunohistochemistry analysis using an antibody against active-cleaved caspase 3. Representative data from three separate experiments are shown. HK-GBS exposure led to an increase in caspase 3 positive cells in the membranes (c) and above the spongiform trophoblast layer at 14 hours in the placenta (f).
