Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid Protects Nucleus Pulposus Cells from Compression-Induced Apoptosis and Necroptosis via Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Figure 3

The influence of TUDCA on compression-induced apoptosis of NP cells. (a) Dot graphs obtained by flow cytometry analysis after Annexin V-FITC/PI dual staining. Early apoptotic cells were Annexin V-FITC (+) and PI (−), late apoptotic cells and necrotic cells were Annexin V-FITC (+) and PI (+), and undamaged cells were Annexin V-FITC (−) and PI (−). (b) The apoptosis rate for each group. Data are expressed as means ± SD of three independent experiments ( and versus DMSO control). (c) Fluorescence photomicrograph of apoptotic cells after Annexin V-FITC/PI dual staining (magnification ×200, scale bars represent 100 μm). The fluorescence photomicrographs of cells stained with FITC (green) and PI (red) were taken under the same visual field and then merged using Image-Pro Plus software. (d) Fluorescence photomicrograph of apoptotic nuclei after Hoechst 33258 staining. Apoptotic nuclei were brightly stained by Hoechst 33258 (magnification ×100, scale bars represent 200 μm). (e) Statistical analysis of the apoptotic rate after Hoechst 33258 staining ( versus DMSO control).

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