Figure 2.

Crocin protected HT22 cells against l-Glu induced mitochondrial apoptosis. (A) Crocin enhanced cell viability in HT22 cells exposed to l-Glu for 24 h (n=10). ^##P<0.01 vs. CTRL. ^**P<0.01 vs. l-Glu-treated cells. (B) Crocin reduced the apoptosis rate in HT22 cells exposed to l-Glu for 24 h identified by analysis by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining (n=10). (C) Crocin restored l-Glu-induced MMP dissipation following 12 h co-incubation (n=10; scale bar, 100 µm). (D) Crocin decreased the over-accumulation of ROS induced by 12 h l-Glu exposure (n=10; scale bar, 100 µm). (E) Crocin prevented intracellular Ca²⁺ overload induced by 12 h l-Glu exposure (n=10; scale bar, 100 µm). l-Glu, l -Glutamate; CTRL, control; FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate; PI, propidium iodide; ROS, reactive oxygen species.