Activation of caspase-3 in JPX-9 cells by NAC or LLL-CHO, which is inhibited by preincubation of the cells with CdCl₂. JPX-9 cells were preincubated with or without CdCl₂ for 6 hours. After washing with PBS, the cells were further cultured with or without 50 mmol/L of NAC or 10 μmol/L of LLL-CHO for 24 hours. After cultivation, the expression of pro-caspase-3 was determined as described in the text. Results are representative examples of 4 similar experiments. Note that the expression of pro-caspase-3 in CdCl₂-untreated JPX-9 cells is significantly decreased by 2 kinds of NF-κB inhibitors, whereas that is almost inhibited by preincubation of the cells with CdCl₂.