Prednisone decreases podocyte apoptosis in experimental FSGS Prednisone decreases podocyte apoptosis in experimental FSGS. A–C: podocyte apoptosis was measured by double staining for caspase-3 (red color) and synaptopodin (green color), with DAPI staining nuclei (blue color; ×630 original magnification). Prednisone decreases podocyte apoptosis in experimental FSGS. A–C: podocyte apoptosis was measured by double staining for caspase-3 (red color) and synaptopodin (green color), with DAPI staining nuclei (blue color; ×630 original magnification). A1–3: normal mice: synaptopodin staining is present in a typical podocyte distribution (arrows); caspase-3 staining is absent. B1–3: mice with FSGS given DMSO. B-1: caspase-3-stained cell (arrowhead) is shown. B-2: areas of reduced synaptopodin staining are noted (*). B-3: caspase-3 and synaptopodin double positive cell (yellow color, arrowhead) in the tuft. C1–3: mice with FSGS given prednisone. C-1: caspase-3-positive cells in the tubule (dashed arrow) adjacent to the glomerulus. C-2: intensity of synaptopodin staining is more marked in mice with FSGS given DMSO. C-3: no double staining is detected in the glomerulus. D: quantitation for caspase-3+/synaptopodin+ double staining: apoptosis is increased in mice with FSGS given DMSO at 2 and 4 wk (hatched bars) compared with normal mice (open bars). Prednisone treatment decreased apoptosis at 2 and 4 wk (filled bars). Jiong Zhang et al. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2013;304:F1375-F1389 ©2013 by American Physiological Society