The effects of Dex and TNFα on apoptosis of preadipocytes (A) and adipocytes (B). Preadipocytes and adipocytes were cultured in serum-free medium and treated with TNFα (6 nmol/L), Dex (10⁻⁸ or 10⁻⁷ mol/L), or their combination for 24 h. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL and propidium iodide staining. *, P < 0.01 compared with control samples; **, P < 0.01 compared with TNFα-treated samples.