Research Paper

Figure 4. Mitochondrial functions in aged astrocytes were found declined and berberine may have relieved effect. (A) Cell viability assay of astrocytes by using different concentration of H₂O₂. (B) Representative immunoblots and (C) Quantitation of P53, P21, P16 and β-actin, in astrocytes treated with H₂O₂ and berberine. β-actin was a loading control and data are expressed relative to control, n = 3. (D) Cytokine ELISA of IL-6 in culture medium of astrocytes treated with or without H₂O₂. (E) JC-1 staining. The red and green fluorescence reflects changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential of astrocytes treated with or without H₂O₂ and berberine, the group of CCCP is used as a positive control. n = 3. ×200 magnification. (F) ATP content was detected by the ATP Assess Kit. (G) Representative immunoblots and (H) Quantitation of Drp1, Mfn2, Opa-1 and β-actin, in astrocytes treated with H₂O₂ and berberine. β-actin was a loading control and data are expressed relative to control, n = 3. All experiments were expressed as the mean +/−S.D, analyzed by ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test, ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01, ^***P < 0.001, ns represents no significance.