Figure 5. Effect of daidzein on proapoptosis in the hippocampus of rats fed STD and HFD by caspase-3 immunohistochemistry.

A) The histogram represents the mean ± s.e.m. per area (mm²) of caspase 3-ir cells (n = 8). The number of positive cells is significantly greater in the hippocampi of rats fed HFD, but it is especially lower in the dentate gyrus of STD-fed rats treated with daidzein. B–M) Representative microphotographs show low- and high- (insets) magnification view of caspase 3-ir cells in the dentade gyrus, CA3 and CA1 of the hippocampus (arrows). Two-way ANOVA: ^&& P<0.01, ^&&& P<0.001 for diet effect (STD vs. HFD) or interaction (treatment vs. diet). Bonferroni post test: *P<0.05, **P<0.01 vs. STD-fed rats treated with vehicle. Scale bars are included in each image.