Fig. 5

Preconditioning effect of combined treatment of NSCs with Sodium butyrate (NaB) and Nicorandil. Combined treatment with NaB and nicorandil significantly reduced NSCs apoptosis upon subsequent exposure to oxidative stress could diminish the apoptosis after stress oxidative exposure. a Caspase 3 activity was significantly higher in the untreated NSCs after exposure to oxidative stress whereas preconditioning with either NaB or nicorandil treatment alone significantly reduced caspase 3 activity. Lowest caspase 3 activity was observed in the cells which had combined pre-treatment with NaB and Nicorandil. b-e Similarly, Annexin V assay showed lowest apoptosis in the combined (NaB and nicorandil) treatment group. Untreated cells without exposure to oxidative stress were used as baseline control. Propidium iodide staining showed that the more than 99% cell death was because of the apoptosis and not due to necrosis (f-g)