Fig. 5. Apoptosis was induced in hyperglycemia rats. Representative immunoblot for cleaved caspase-3 in kidneys after ischemia-reperfusion along with densitometric analysis. Cleaved caspase-3 protein levels were measured by Western blot in 50 μg of kidney homogenates. Densitometric values were normalized to actin and are expressed as a ratio of sham ± SD, with n = 4 each in the sham and saline control groups and n = 5 each in the PI dextrose and PR dextrose groups. Cleaved caspase-3 did not change in the saline group after ischemia-reperfusion compared with sham but was significantly increased in the PI dextrose group. * P < 0.05 versus sham. # P < 0.05 versus saline. $ P < 0.05 versus PR dextrose. Cleaved caspase-3 expression in the PR dextrose group was similar to that in saline controls. PI dextrose = hyperglycemia lasts through the duration of ischemia; PR dextrose = hyperglycemia begins 2 h after initiation of reperfusion.