Figure 3.

The expression of VCAM-1 and adherence of leukocytes is increased in TSP-1-deficient blood vessels in the retina. (a) Real-time PCR was performed on RNA isolated from retinas harvested from WT or TSP-1-deficient (TSP-1^−/−) mice (8 weeks old, n = 5 each group) to detect message levels for ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 genes. Results are expressed as the mean ± SEM. (b) Firmly adherent leukocytes in retinal vessels were visualized by perfusing mice with rhodamine-conjugated Con A (red) before harvesting retina. Representative images of retina whole mounts from WT and TSP-1-deficient mice are shown with a quantitative assessment of adherent leukocytes in retinal vessels (n = 4 each group). White arrows indicate adherent leukocytes in the main images, and the inset shows a digital magnification of an area. Data are expressed as the mean number of leukocytes per mm² ± SEM. * p < 0.05. Scale bar = 75 µM.