Fig. 4

PNS inhibited hypoxia-induced cellular apoptosis via the AKT/Bad pathway in vitro. Primary mouse hepatocytes were preincubated with or without 10 μM LY294002 for 1 h and were then treated with 0.12 mg/ml PNS for 6 h before being subjected to hypoxia for 24 h. (a) The effect of a PI3K inhibitor on the protective activity of PNS against hypoxia-induced apoptosis in primary mouse hepatocytes was determined using Annexin V/PI staining by flow cytometry. (b) Quantification of (a). (c) Total and phosphorylated protein levels of AKT and Bad in primary mouse hepatocytes. Values represent the mean ± SD of at least three independent experiments; *** P<0.001