Figure 8.

Effect of tanshinone IIA on amitriptyline-induced GJIC in cultured cortical astrocytes. After treatment with tanshinone IIA (3 μM) for 30 min, cells were stimulated with amitriptyline (25 μM) for 48 h. Upper photographs show representative spreading of dye taken as an indicator of intercellular junction coupling. The graph shows the quantification of the extent of fluorescence (area × intensity). Values are expressed as a ratio to vehicle-treated astrocytes. Data represent the mean ± SEM (bars) for three to five independent experiments. **P < 0.01 versus vehicle treatment. ^††P < 0.01 versus amitriptyline treatment alone.