Figure 5.

Metformin reverses HFD-induced effects on the immunofluorescent intensities of several proteins in mice retina. Mouse retinal sections (4 μm) were processed for immunofluorescent staining. Control mice (Con) were given standard chow for 7 months. The HFD-fed mice (HFD) were given HFD for 7 months. The HFD+Met (HFD+Met) mice were given HFD for 7 months and treated with metformin for the last 5 months. (A–C) The fluorescent images of pAKT (A) and total AKT (B) and the statistical analyses of the fluorescent intensities in the control, HFD, and HFD+Met retinas (C) are shown. The pAKT fluorescent intensity of HFD retinas is significantly lower (*) than those in the other two groups. (D–F) The fluorescent images of pERK (D) and total ERK (E) and the statistical analyses of the fluorescent intensities in the control, HFD, and HFD+Met retinas (F) are shown. The fluorescent intensity of pERK in the HFD-fed mouse retina is significantly higher (*) than those in the control and HFD+Met retinas. (G–I) The fluorescent images of pAMPK (G) and total AMPK (H) and the statistical analyses of the fluorescent intensities in the control, HFD, and HFD+Met retinas (I) are shown. The fluorescent intensity of pAMPK in the HFD retinas is significantly lower (*) than those in the control and HFD+Met retinas (*), whereas pAMPK is significantly higher in the HFD+Met mouse retina (#) than those of the control and HFD retinas. The fluorescent intensity of total AMPK is significantly higher in the HFD+Met retina (#) than those of the other two groups. Scale bar: 50 μm. INL, inner nuclear layer; IPL, inner plexiform layer; ONL, outer nuclear layer; OPL, outer plexiform layer. (C, F, I) Box plots represent the distribution of fluorescent intensities within a specific group. The black line represents the median, and the gray line represents the mean of the specific group. N is the number of animals in the group. *^,#P < 0.05.