ATRA decreases cleaved caspase-3 and increases bcl-2 activities after I/R injury.

<p>(<b>A+B</b>) H9c2 cells were subjected to 24 h of pre-treatment with different concentrations of ATRA and then subjected to H/R injury. A DMSO equivalent to ATRA at the highest concentration served as a control (H/R group). Western blotting of cell lysates indicated that there was less cleaved caspase-3 protein and more bcl-2 protein in cells treated with ATRA than in controls (n = 3 in every group, ^#<i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs</i>. H/R). (<b>C</b>) The <i>in vitro</i> findings were confirmed in mice cardiomyocyte after I/R injury (n = 3 in every group, ^#<i>P</i><0.05 <i>vs</i>. I/R). Data is expressed as means ± SD.