The effect of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels on apoptosis of chick embryo cecal cells by Eimeria tenella

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (mitoK(ATP)) channels on apoptosis induced by Eimeria tenella. At 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h after Eimeria tenella infection, TUNEL assays and translation of phosphatidyl serines to the host cell plasma membrane surface showed that diazoxide-treated chick embryo cecal cells underwent less apoptosis (P < 0.05), while light microscopy showed that infection rates of treated cells were higher (P < 0.01) than untreated cells. Caspase 9 and caspase 3 of infected cells were activated less (P < 0.01) in diazoxide-treated cells than untreated cells. These results indicate that opening mitoK(ATP) channels can protect chick embryo cecal cells from mitochondria-dependent apoptosis induced by Eimeria tenella by inhibiting activations of caspase 9 and caspase 3. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.