Immunohistochemical localization of caspase 3.

<p>(A & B) Expression of caspase 3 in ovaries and uterus of control groups shows a minimal degree. <b>(</b>C & D) Expression of caspase 3 in ovaries and uterus treated with sodium selenite (0.5 mg/kg) alone shows a minimal degree. (E & F) Expression of caspase 3 in ovaries and uterus exposed to <i>γ</i>-radiation (3.2 Gy) shows an extensive degree. (G & H) Expression of caspase 3 in ovaries and uterus treated with sodium selenite (0.5 mg/kg) for one week before being exposed to <i>γ</i>-radiation (3.2 Gy) was limited. (I & J): Ovarian and uterine negative controls omitting primary antibody. Scale bar, 10 <i>µ</i>m. (K): Quantification of ovarian caspase 3 staining represents the percent of immunopositive cells to the total area of the microscopic field (20×); averaged across 7 fields for each rat section. Each column represents the mean ± SD of at least three independent experiments. a or b: Statistically significant from control or irradiated group, respectively at P<0.05 using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey–Kramer as a post-hoc test.