Fig. 4.

Effects of NO on the ROS generation in HDPCs. DCF-loaded cells were incubated with various concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mM) of SNP for 1 hr and the intracellular levels of ROS were detected by measuring the DCF-DA fluorescence (A). Cells were treated with 4 mM SNP alone or co-incubated with 5 mM N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) for 24 hrs and cell viability was analyzed by MTS assay. NAC, a free radical scavenger, ameliorated the decrease of cell viability induced by SNP. Data are expressed as mean±S.D. from triplicate independent experiments. ^**p<0.01, vs. control; ^##p<0.01 vs. SNP-treated group (B). Cells were treated with 4 mM SNP alone or co-incubated with 5 mM NAC for 24 hrs and Bax, Bcl-2, Cytochrome c (Cyt c) and cleaved caspase-3 were detected by Western blot (C). ODQ, a soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor, did not rescue the cell viability decreased by SNP. Results are expressed as mean±SD from triplicate independent experiments. Data are expressed as mean±S.D. from triplicate independent experiments. ^**p<0.01, vs. control (D).