Figure 4.

Mitochondria independent apoptosis is promoted by caspase-9 and caspase-12. Cerebellar neurons were treated for 24 h with vehicle (ctrl, control), cimes (10 μM), the caspase-9 inhibitor Z-LEHD-FMK (LEHD, 100 μM) or a combination of cimes and LEHD (cimes+LEHD) as indicated. Then activity-assays of caspase-8 (a), caspase-9 (b), and caspase-3 (c), or DNA analysis (d) and viability assays (e) were performed. Data represent mean values±S.D. (n=3). ^*P<0.05. Activation of caspase-12 (f) was analyzed by western blotting