Icariin Prevents H₂O₂-Induced Apoptosis via the PI3K/Akt Pathway in Rat Nucleus Pulposus Intervertebral Disc Cells

Figure 2

The sectionalization: (A) blank control. (B) 200 μM H₂O₂. (C) 200 μM H₂O₂ + 20 μM icariin (Ica). (D) 200 μM H₂O₂ + 20 μM Ica. (E) 200 μM H₂O₂ + 20 μM Ica + 25 μM LY294002. (a) Phase-contrast light microscopy observations: the cell number of group (B) is decreased, cells are more shrunk, and there were many round dead cells. In group (C), there were fewer dead cells and the cell morphology was more normal than in group (B). However, in group (D), cells shrank and there were many dead cells. (b) Apoptosis detected by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscope: the extent of apoptosis significantly declined in group (C) compared with group (B). In group (D), the extent of apoptosis increased compared with group (C). Group (E) exhibited the most apoptotic cells of all groups. (c) Apoptosis rate: the apoptosis rate of H₂O₂ group increased significantly and the cytotoxicity of H₂O₂ is weakened by icariin ( versus control group; versus H₂O₂ group). In addition, the lock of PI3/AKT pathway made a dent in the protection effect of icariin ( versus group (C)). Group (E) (25 μM LY294002 + 200 μM H₂O₂): this group exhibited more apoptotic cells ( versus group (D)).

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