Figure 4.

AMPK regulates Kir4.1 in rat Müller cells. The cultured rMC-1 cells were treated with metformin, AICAR, or vehicle (UT, untreated) at different time intervals. The western blots show an increase in Kir4.1 levels in rMC-1 cells treated with (A) metformin and (C) AICAR. The bar charts show integrated optical density data for (B) metformin and (D) AICAR treatment (n = 5; ^*P < 0.05). The rMC-1 cells were transfected with AMPKα1 (Prkaa1) siRNA or a scrambled control siRNA. (E) Bar chart shows mRNA levels of Prkaa1 after siRNA silencing (n = 6; ^**P < 0.01, unpaired t-test). A representative western blot (F) and its respective bar chart (G) show a decrease in Kir4.1 protein expression when AMPK (Prkaa1) is silenced (n = 5; ^*P < 0.05, Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA followed by Dunn's test).