ART induced apoptosis of MMQ cells via the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway. MMQ cells were treated with the following strategies: saline (control), ART 2 µM for 24 h, ART 8 µM for 24 h, ART 2 µM for 48 h, and ART 8 µM for 48 h; the expression of PRL and apoptosis-related proteins was detected by Western blot. (A) PRL protein expression decreased after treatment with 2 µM and 8 µM ART for 24 h, and continued to decrease significantly in the 48 h group. (B) The PRL mRNA expressions of MMQ exposed to ART detected by qPCR. ART treatment decreased the expression of PRL mRNA. (*, P<0.05, vs. control group; mean ± SD, n=3). (C) ART treatment increased the protein expression of BAX, cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved PARP, and decreased the expression of BCL-2 compared with the control group. ART, artesunate; PRL, prolactin.