Fig. 5.

Effects of Cl⁻ channel blockers on apoptotic processes of MCE301 cells treated with sodium butyrate for 16 h. a, b Quantification of apoptotic cells. Annexin V-positive cells with low forward scatter (shrinkage) are defined as early apoptotic cells: 2.5 µM DCPIB (a) or 10 µM NPPB (b) decreased the number of apoptotic cells after exposure to 8 mM sodium butyrate for 16 h. Each column represents the mean ± SEM (vertical bar) of five experiments. *P < 0.05 compared to control. ^# P < 0.05 compared to butyrate. c, d Sodium butyrate-induced caspase 3/7 activation: 2.5 µM DCPIB (c) or 10 µM NPPB (d) inhibited caspase 3/7 activation in cells exposed to 8 mM sodium butyrate for 16 h. Each column represents the mean ± SEM (vertical bar) of five (c) and seven (d) experiments. *P < 0.05 compared to control. ^# P < 0.05 compared to butyrate