Figure 2

NAC prevents apoptotic cell death of cultured astroglial cells induced by gp 120. Incubation of astroglial cells with gp 120 (10 nm) for 24 hours leads to reduced cell population (A: phase contrast microphotographs) and DNA fragmentation as shown by appearance in preparation of TUNEL-positive cells (green) (B: immunofluorescence microphotographs) compared with untreated control. Pre-incubation of 2 hours with NAC (5 mM) antagonized the generation of apoptosis in astrocytes subsequent to incubation with gp 120 (10 nM). These are representative photomicrographs out of five independent experiment.