Involvement of functional mitochondria in propofol-induced caspase activation and cell death.

<p>P29 and ρ0P29 cells lacking mtDNA were exposed to the indicated concentrations (25, 50 or 100 μM) of propofol for 6 h. (A) Cells were harvested, and percentages of cell death were measured by flow cytometry. The ratio of PI-positive and/or annexin V-positive cells [(Q1 + Q2 + Q4)/(Q1 + Q2 + Q3 + Q4)] was used to calculate the percentage of dead cells (<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0192796#pone.0192796.s004" target="_blank">S1 Fig</a>) (n = 3). (B) Caspase-3/7 activity in each treatment group (n = 3) at 6 h. Differences between treatment groups were evaluated by one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's multiple comparison test. *<i>p</i> < 0.05 compared to the control cell population; #<i>p</i> < 0.05 compared to the indicated experimental groups.