Fig. 3.

A: representative control VSMC shows normal ultrastructure, characterized by nucleus with smooth contour, evenly dispersed chromatin, and abundant cytoplasmic organelles. After induction of apoptosis by spermine, these cells exhibit characteristic apoptotic changes, including chromatin condensation and fragmentation, formation of apoptotic bodies (asterisk), cytoplasmic vacuolization, and reduction in cellular organelles (B). The overall morphology of the majority of rescued VSMC after F1 treatment is essentially similar to that of controls (C). By contrast, ∼50% of the cells in spermine + NAC or F2-treated group exhibit apoptotic morphology (D). Scale bar = 2.5 μm.