Apoptotic morphology of PC12 cells after Hoechst 33258 staining (inverted fluorescence microscopy, × 200).
Arrows show condensed and fragmented nuclei.
(A) Different doses of colistin sulfate-treated PC12 cells. (a) Control group, normal cells, without condensed and fragmented nuclei. (b) 62.5 μg/mL colistin sulfate group: condensed and fragmented nuclei are visible in several cells. (c) 125 μg/mL colistin sulfate group: condensed and fragmented nuclei are observed in many cells. (d) 250 μg/mL colistin sulfate group: condensed and fragmented nuclei are detectable in almost all cells.
(B) Neuroprotective effect of baicalin against colistin sulfate-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells. (a) Control group: normal cells, without condensed and fragmented nuclei. (b) 125 μg/mL colistin sulfate group: condensed and fragmented nuclei were detected in many cells. PC12 cells were pretreated with 25 (c), 50 (d), and 100 μg/mL (e) baicalin, and induced with 125 μg/mL colistin sulfate. (c, d) Compared with the colistin sulfate-induced group, condensation and fragmentation were significantly decreased. (e) Cells exhibited normal morphology.