Figure 9.

Daily administration of inhibitors of α₁-ARs (Dox) and NADPH oxidase (Apo) for 8 months to mice significantly reduced diabetes-induced increases in retinal superoxide (A), expression of iNOS (B), and capillary degeneration (C). Dox (but not Apo) significantly inhibited the diabetes-induced defect in contrast sensitivity at 8 months of diabetes, but the functional effect was modest (D). Nondiabetic, solid squares, solid line; diabetic, solid triangles, dashed line; diabetic+doxazosin, solid circles, thin solid line; diabetic+apocynin, X, thin solid line. Contrast sensitivity was determined at the same spatial frequencies in all groups, but group means are offset slightly to allow easier visualization of the data. n = 5 in each group. Mean ± sem.