Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026

Apoptosis Induction and Detection in a Primary Culture of Sea Cucumber Intestinal Cells
Published on: January 21, 2020
Diethyl phthalate enhances apoptosis induced by serum deprivation in PC12 cells
Yongkun Sun1, Kumiko Takahashi, Toshiyuki Hosokawa
1Division of Environmental Science Development, Environmental Adaptation Science, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Abstract:
In this study, to examine the mechanism of diethyl phthalate toxicity to cells, the effects of diethyl phthalate on apoptosis in a PC12 cell system were investigated by assaying apoptotic factors such as caspase-3, Bax, cytochrome c and DNA damage. Diethyl phthalate was shown to enhance the apoptosis induced by serum deprivation according to the results of DNA electrophoresis and TUNEL signal assays, although it could not induce apoptosis itself in the cells. This enhancement was thought to be because of an increase in caspase-3-like activity. In addition, the expression of bax and contents of cytochrome c in the cytosol showed a tendency to increase the cells exposed to diethyl phthalate. These results indicated that diethyl phthalate, a potential endocrine disrupter, affects the apoptotic system in PC12 cells. Diethyl phthalate may enhance oxidative stress such as that induced by reactive oxygen species in PC12 cells.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
Cellular Injury IlI: Cellular Death
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized by phagocytes.

