Figure 2From: Molecular hydrogen protects chondrocytes from oxidative stress and indirectly alters gene expressions through reducing peroxynitrite derived from nitric oxideHydrogen protects chondrocytes of fibrocartilages from cell death. (A) Meniscus fibrocartilages from SD rats was incubated with 1 mM SNAP in the presence or absence of hydrogen for 0, 6, 20, 48, or 80 hr at 37°C. Cells were stained with calcein AM (Live cell: green) and ethidium homodimer (Dead cell: red) as described in Materials and methods. Scale bar: 40 μm. (B) Chondrocyte viability was determined by counting green and red cells from three regions of each slice. Six slices were used for each experimental group. The slices were incubated with 1 mM SNAP in the presence or absence of hydrogen for the indicated periods at 37°C. Data are the means ± SD (n= 6). *p< 0.05; ***p< 0.001. (C) The slices were incubated with 0, 0.3, 1, or 3 mM SNAP in the presence or absence of hydrogen for 48 hr at 37°C. Data are the means ± SD (n= 6). *p< 0.05; ***p< 0.001.Back to article page