Figure 4.

Cell morphology of human corneal endothelial cells (HCECs) under different conditions: cells were transfected with the Accell siRNA (Control-siRNA, Bax+Bak-siRNA) or untransfected (Cells only) for 96 h (w/o inducers, last row), followed by staurosporine (250 nM for 6 h; first row) or by etoposide treatment (42.5 µM for 21 h; middle row). It can be seen that the induction of apoptosis with both staurosporine and etoposide alters the phenotype of HCECs in controls (Cells only and Control-siRNA). Under staurosporine treatment, the cells shrink significantly and can no longer form cell clusters. The loss of cells and contacts can also be observed with etoposide treatment (arrows). In contrast, Bax+Bak-siRNA transfected HCECs and treated with apoptosis inducers have improved morphology, resembling cells without apoptosis stimulus (w/o inducers). (Axiovert 40C, Zeiss; bars 20 µm).