Bufalin Inhibits HCT116 Colon Cancer Cells and Its Orthotopic Xenograft Tumor in Mice Model through Genes Related to Apoptotic and PTEN/AKT Pathways

Figure 2

Effect of Bufalin on cell apoptosis. Flow cytometry on Annexin V/PI double stained cells showed that the apoptosis rates in the Bufalin-treated cells were significantly higher than that in the control group () with dose-dependence. HE stained untreated cells appeared to be irregular spindle or polygon with cell mitosis (A), while the morphological changes of Bufalin-treated cells included cell dwindlement and shrinkage (C, D) or the spherical cell shape (B) and enlarged intercellular space (C, D) or disappeared connection (B) between the cells, chromatin condensation, and decreased mitosis. The ultrastructure changes included plasmatic rarefaction and chromatin margination (D), cytoplasmic scattering (C), chromatin condensation (C), and apoptotic body (B, C). Bufalin concentration: A: control, B: 3 μM, C: 0.3 μM, and D: 0.03 μM.

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