Figure 5.
Mintaimycin A1 (1) induced differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblast cells to adipocytes. Compared to vehicle-treated 3T3-L1 fibroblast cells, cells treated with mintaimycin A1 (1) at 10.0 μmol/L produced prominent oil red O-stained lipid droplets after an incubation period of 14 days, suggesting that it promoted 3T3-L1 fibroblast cells to differentiate into lipid-accumulating adipocytes. Rosiglitazone (an anti-diabetic drug) at 2.0 μmol/L was used as positive control in the assay. A mixture of 10.0 μg/mL of insulin, 0.5 mmol/L of 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and 1.0 μmol/L of dexamethasone was used as an inducer for cell adipogenesis. (A) Representative images of oil red O staining of 3T3-L1 cells at day 14, a: blank; b: vehicle (inducer); c: 1.0 μmol/L (1); d: 10.0 μmol/L (1); e: 2.0 μmol/L (rosiglitazone); (B) differentiation-inducing activity quantified by oil red O-stained images (100× magnification).