Fig. 4.

Levels of proteins involved in the regulation of apoptosis in mammary carcinomas from SC, RE, and PA rats: Bcl-2, human X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), Bax and apoptosis protease-activating factor 1 (Apaf-1). Representative Western blot images (A) and table (B) for the levels of proteins (relative absorbance unit × 10⁴) are shown as means ± SE; n = 7 per treatment group. Data also shown for caspase 3 activity as an alternative indicator of apoptosis and VEGF as a marker for angiogenesis. The caspase 3 activity was expressed as nM·min⁻¹·mg protein⁻¹ of rhodamine 110, which is a caspase 3-catalyzed product of Z-DEVD-R110 substrate, by measuring the rhodamine 110 as reference standard at the same time. The ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 was calculated. Compared with SC: *P < 0.05. [Note added in proof: Figure 4A is a digital composite of representative bands from a series of gels. In each case, the analytes represented by each lane were assessed in a single lysate, and equal loading was confirmed by assessment of actin (same is true for Fig. 3A).]