Fig. 12.

Protein expression of caspase-3 (a) and Bcl-2 (b) in the three groups at Weeks 2, 4, and 8

(a) Caspase-3 expression was less in the treatment group (P<0.01), but the expression was promoted and highest in the model group (P<0.05). Pretreatment with SF (20 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the increase of caspase-3 expression (P<0.01). (b) Protein level of Bcl-2 was highest in the treatment group (P<0.01), but the expression was least and inhibited in the model group (P<0.05). Pretreatment with SF (20 mg/kg) markedly reversed the steroid-induced suppression of Bcl-2 protein level (P<0.01). ^* P<0.05 versus control group; ^Δ P<0.05 versus treatment group