Figure 2.
Effect of dexamethasone and vanadate on apoptosis in MBA-15.4 osteoblasts. MBA-15.4 osteoblasts, grown in 10% FCS, were treated for 6 h, 3 days and 6 days with 10−6 M Dex and/or co-treated with 10−7 M vanadate (VO4). Dex was added every 3 days and vanadate daily. Apoptotic cells were identified on the basis of morphological changes and either TUNEL staining (A–C) or cleaved PARP immunocytochemistry (D). Total cell counts were not performed in the first set of experiments (A), so these data are expressed as apoptotic cells per field. Results (mean±s.d.) are the average of at least four independent experimental repeats, except where otherwise stated. *P<0·05, **P<0·01.