Analysis of caspase 3/7 activity in osteoclasts.

24 hours serum-deprived osteoclasts from control and CIA rats were incubated with caspase 3/7 reagent for 6–10 hours. Osteoclast caspase 3/7 activity of control and CIA osteoclasts in the time-course of arthritis is shown under 4A. N (control/CIA rats): 10d (6), 15d (8), 20d (8), 40d (8). Influence of stimulation with NA (B, C) and ACh / VIP (D, E) on caspase 3/7 activity in osteoclasts from control and CIA rats is shown as percentage to respective unstimulated osteoclasts from CIA and control rats in the time-course of disease progression (unstimulated osteoclasts (100%) = dotted line). N (control/CIA rats) = NA 10^-6M 10d (6/6), 15d (6/6), 20d (6/6), 40d (7/7); NA 10^-8M 10d (6/6), 15d (6/6), 20d (6/6), 40d (8/7); ACh 10^-6M 10d (6/6), 15d (6/6), 20d (5/6), 40d (7/8); VIP 10^-9M 10d (6/6), 15d (6/6), 20d (5/6), 40d (8/7). Assay was performed in triplicate. Box plots represent the 10^th to 90^th percentile of data sets. Data points show mean ± SEM.*p<0,05. ACh: acetylcholine, CIA: collagen-induced arthritis, NA: noradrenaline, VIP: vasoactive intestinal peptide