Figure 5. α-MSH inhibited apoptosis through PKA and Erk pathways in the dry eye corneas.
The animals were divided into NaCl + NaCl, D + NaCl, D + 10−4 α-MSH, D + H89 + 10−4 α-MSH, D + PD + 10−4 α-MSH, D + DMSO + 10−4 α-MSH, D + H89, D + PD groups. The effects of α-MSH, H89, PD98059 alone or α-MSH in presence of either blocker on apoptosis in the dry eye corneas were examined by TUNEL staining on Day 28. Representative pictures of each group were shown (A). The estimated representation of the TUNEL-positive cell number per corneal section was compared (B). n = 5–10 per group. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. D = dry eye, NaCl = saline, PD = PD98059.