Figure 4.

CsA blocks caspase-3 mediated apoptotic pathway in ischemic retina. Vehicle or CsA treatment was begun daily until 1 day before the induction of transient retinal ischemia and continued for 12 h. (a) There were no TUNEL-positive cells in vehicle-treated non-ischemic contralateral control retina. (b) Ischemic retinas treated with vehicle showed TUNEL-positive apoptotic cell death in the GCL and INL at 12 h. (c) In contrast, there were no TUNEL-positive cells in ischemic retina treated with CsA. (d) Quantitative analysis of TUNEL-positive cells. Values are mean±S.D. (n=8 retinas per group). (e) Ischemic retinas showed a significant induction of cleaved caspase-3 protein expression at 12 h. However, CsA treatment significantly reduced cleaved caspase-3 protein expression in ischemic retina at 12 h compared with vehicle-treated ischemic retina. Interestingly, CsA treatment also showed a significant induction of cleaved caspase-3 protein expression in non-ischemic contralateral control retina. Values are mean±S.D. (n=4 retinas per group). *Significant at P<0.05 compared with vehicle-treated non-ischemic contralateral control retina or vehicle-treated ischemic retina. ND, non-detectable. Scale bar, 20 μm (all panels)