Journal: Neural Regeneration Research
Article Title: Positive impact of indicaxanthin from Opuntia ficus-indica fruit on high-fat diet–induced neuronal damage and gut microbiota dysbiosis
doi: 10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-23-02039
Figure Lengend Snippet: Indicaxanthin prevents HFD-induced neuronal apoptosis. (A) TUNEL assay in the superficial cerebral cortex (microscope magnification 20×), showing blue (DAPI-stained nuclei) and red (TUNEL-positive cells) staining. Scale bars: 200 μm. (B) Number of apoptotic nuclei in the superficial cerebral cortex. (C, D) Results of semiquantitative PCR (C) and mRNA levels of the proapoptotic genes Fas-L , Bim , and P27 (D) in the mouse brain. (E, F) Representative image of the semiquantitative PCR results (E) and mRNA levels of the survival genes Bcl-2 and BDNF (F) in the mouse brain. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM ( n = 8/group). *** P < 0.001, vs . STD mice; # P < 0.05, ## P < 0.01; ### P < 0.001, vs . HFD-fed mice. BDNF: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; HFD: high-fat diet; Ind: indicaxanthin; PCR: polymerase chain reaction; STD: standard diet; TUNEL: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling.
Article Snippet: Thus, the halves of each brain were fixed in 4% formalin for 24 hours, followed by incubation with graded ethanol (50%, 70%, 85%, and 96%) for 5 minutes each, embedded in paraffin overnight and subsequently sectioned (5 μm thick) via an automatic microtome (Leica Biosystems, Buffalo Grove, IL, USA) (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling [TUNEL] assay and immunofluorescence).
Techniques: TUNEL Assay, Microscopy, Staining, Derivative Assay, Polymerase Chain Reaction, End Labeling