The effects of PTE on the viability, morphology and apoptotic index of lung adenocarcinoma cells.

(A) Cells were treated with PTE at different concentrations (1.5, 3 and 6 µM) for different durations (12, 24 and 36 h). Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay and was expressed as an OD value. (B) The cell morphology was observed under an inverted/phase contrast microscope (treated for 24 h), and images were taken (×200). Significant cell shrinkage and a decreased cellular attachment rate were observed in the PTE-treated group. (C) Apoptosis of the cells was detected by the TUNEL assay (×200), and the level of cell apoptosis was expressed as the apoptotic index. TUNEL staining was performed to stain the nuclei of apoptotic cells (green), and DAPI was used to stain the nuclei of all cells (blue). The apoptotic index was expressed as the number of green cells/the total number of cells counted×100%. The results are expressed as the mean ± SEM, n = 6. **P<0.01 compared with the control group, ^##P<0.01 compared with the PTE 1.5 µM group, ^$$P<0.01 compared with the PTE 3 µM group. PTE, pterostilbene; OD, optical density.