Figure 4.
β-ecdysterone reverses Dex-induced osteoblast apoptosis. Osteoblasts were treated with Dex (10−6 mol/l) in the presence or absence of β-ecdysterone at various concentrations (10−7−10−5 mol/l), and (A) cell apoptosis was measured using Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide and flow cytometry. (B) Quantification of percentages of apoptotic cells. (C) Expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were measured using western blot analysis. ***P<0.001 vs. control group; ###P<0.001 vs. Dex group. Dex, dexamethasone; Ale, alendronate; Bcl-2, B-cell lymphoma 2; Bax, Bcl-2-associated X protein.