Figure 5. Co-expression of nestin and STAT3 in the reactive astrocytes in the optic nerve after transient intraocular hypertension injury.

In control rats, only a few weakly stained nestin-positive cells were observed in the central part of the optic nerve (A,F,K). Nestin-positive signal was seen in the perinuclear cytoplasm and processes of the astrocytes, which showed good co-localization with STAT3 in the same cells (A′,F′,K′). Transient intraocular hypertension induced significant increase of nestin at 3 and 7 days (B–E,G–J,L–O). Strong nestin-positive astrocytes were seen throughout the trans-section of optic nerve (I,J,N,O). Nestin-expressing astrocytes were found co-expressing STAT3 (L,M,N,O,O′).