Cucurbitacin I Protects H9c2 Cardiomyoblasts against H₂O₂-Induced Oxidative Stress via Protection of Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Figure 4

Cu I prevents mitochondrial dysfunction upon H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts. MMP was determined by JC-1 staining. (a) Representative images and (b) fluorescence intensities in cells pretreated with 0.1, 0.5, and 1 μM Cu I for 24 h followed by exposure to 500 μM H₂O₂ for additional 24 h. (c) Quantitative RT-PCR analysis for mitochondrial biogenesis-related gene (NRF-1, PPARα, ERRα, and PGC-1β) mRNA expression in Cu I-pretreated/H₂O₂-treated cells. The qRT-PCR analysis was performed in triplicate with three independent samples. Data are expressed as fold changes ± SEM versus control cells. Significance was analyzed by a one-way ANOVA followed by the Bonferroni post hoc test. and versus control cells. and versus H₂O₂ alone-treated cells. Cont: control; Cu I: cucurbitacin I. Scale bar, 100 μm.

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