Figure 7. HN protects anterior pituitary cells from TNF-α-induced apoptosis in male rats.

Cultured anterior pituitary cells from GNX male rats were incubated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT, 10⁻⁸ M) for 24 h and then with HN (5 µM) for 2 h before adding TNF-α (50 ng/ml) for an additional 24 h. Apoptosis was assessed by the TUNEL method and lactotropes and somatotropes detected by immunofluorescence. Each column represents the percentage ± CL of TUNEL-positive anterior pituitary cells (A, n≥1400 cells/group), lactotropes (B, n≥1400 cells/group) or somatotropes (C, n≥1300 cells/group). Data from at least two separate experiments were analyzed by χ² test. *p<0.05 respective control without TNF-α; ∧p<0.05 vs respective control without HN.