Protective Effects of Dracocephalum heterophyllum in ConA-Induced Acute Hepatitis

Figure 4

DH inhibits ConA-induced hepatic apoptosis. Notes: mice were sacrificed at 24 hours after ConA injection. The livers were harvested from Control, ConA, DH, and ConA+DH groups, respectively. Images showing TUNEL-labeled (green) apoptotic cells counterstained with DAPI (blue) in liver tissue sections. DAPI-stained sections (b, e, h, and k) label the nuclei, while TUNEL-labeling (a, d, g, and j) reveals apoptotic cells. Colocalization of TUNEL/ DAPI (c, f, i, and l) in liver sections. The arrows indicate an aggregate of apoptotic cells in liver section (d and f) of ConA injection group. Original magnification ×200. ConA: Concanavalin A; DH: Dracocephalum heterophyllum; TUNEL, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase- (TdT-) mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling; DAPI: 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole.