Apoptotic markers are reduced in type 2 diabetic rats treated with pioglitazone. For both A and B, data presented include whole retinal analyses of lean (Ctrl), lean + pioglitazone (Ctrl+pio), BBZDR/Wor obese (Diab), and BBZDR/Wor obese + pioglitazone (Diab+pio) animals. A and B show Western blot results for the anti-apoptotic proteins (Akt and Bcl-xL). C–E, Western blot results for pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax, cytochrome c, and cleaved caspase 3). *, p < 0.05 versus control; #, p < 0.05 versus diabetic. Data are mean ± S.E. n = 5 in all groups. A.U., arbitrary units.