Figure 4. Inhibition of microglial activation by rapamycin is involved in rapamycin–mediated neuroprotection in the COH.

(A): Representative images of Iba1 immunostaining (red) of retinas in a normal rat, a COH rat, and a COH rat after treatment with rapamycin. (B): Quantification of Iba1⁺ cells in the retinas of different experimental groups. The expression of Iba1 mRNA (C) and protein (D) in the retinas of different experimental groups was determined by real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively. (E): The expression of NF-κB in retinas was determined by western blotting. Each group includes 8 rats, and experiments were repeated once. Values are presented as the mean ± SEM of 3 replicates. **p<0.01. Abbreviations: COH, chronic ocular hypertension model; RAPA, rapamycin; NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa B; Iba1, ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1.