Figure 3
Aβ-induced translocation of Bax and modulation of Bcl-2 proteins in rat cortical neurons. Mitochondrial, cytosolic, and total proteins were processed for Western blot analysis. Following SDS-PAGE and transfer, the nitrocellulose membranes were incubated with a monoclonal antibody to Bcl-2 and polyclonal antibodies to Bax and Bcl-xL. A: TUDCA inhibits Aβ-induced translocation of Bax. Neuronal cells were incubated with vehicle (control), 25 µM Aβ fragment 25–35, 100 µM TUDCA, or a combination of Aβ plus TUDCA for 24 h as described in Materials and Methods. Representative Western blots are shown for mitochondrial (top) and cytosolic (bottom) fractions. Histograms are mean ± SEM for at least 3 different experiments. §P < 0.05 from control; ‡P < 0.05 from Aβ. B: Aβ markedly upregulates Bax expression but only slightly induces Bcl-2 expression. Cells cultured for 3 d were incubated with either vehicle (control), or 25 µM Aβ fragment 25–35 for 5, 15, and 30 min and 1, 8, and 24 h. Representative Western blots are shown for Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and β-actin proteins.