Fig. 2.

Celastrol attenuates cadmium (Cd)-reduced viability and altered morphology in neuronal cells. Pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells were pre-treated with celastrol (0–1 μM) for 1 h, and then exposed to Cd (10 and 20 μM) for 24 h. (a) Morphology of PC12 cells was visualized under a Nikon Eclipse TE2000-U inverted phase-contrast microscope (200×) equipped with a digital camera. Scale bar: 100 μm. (b) Cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolim bromide (MTT) assay. Results are presented as mean ± SE, n = 5. ^ap < 0.05, difference with control group; ^bp < 0.05, difference with 10 μM Cd group; ^cp < 0.05, difference with 20 μM Cd group.