Fig. 7

Early and late apoptosis of splenic cells. Male Wistar rats were infected with T. cruzi and treated for 14 days with ghrelin. On day 15 post-infection, the animals were euthanized and the spleens collected. The splenic cells were processed, labelled with CFSE and incubated with T. cruzi extract or RPMI (control) for 24 h, 37 °C, 5% CO₂. In parallel, the same approach was performed with incubation for 15 min (day 0). The cells were incubated with Annexin-V FITC for 15 min, at room temperature in the dark. Before the analysis by flow cytometry, propidium iodide was added. a Early apoptosis (AnnexinV⁺PI^-) of cells incubated for 15 min with RPMI. b Late apoptosis (AnnexinV⁺PI⁺) of cells incubated for 15 min with RPMI. c Early apoptosis (AnnexinV⁺PI⁻) of cells incubated for 24 h with RPMI. d Early apoptosis (AnnexinV⁺PI⁻) of cells incubated for 24 h with T. cruzi extract. e Late apoptosis (AnnexinV⁺PI⁺) of cells incubated for 24 h with RPMI. f Late apoptosis (AnnexinV⁺PI⁺) of cells incubated for 24 h with T. cruzi extract. Abbreviations: C, non-infected and non-treated control; CG, non-infected and treated control; I, infected and non-treated animals; IG, infected and treated animals. *P < 0.05