Left, representative microphotographs of TUNEL-positive cells in (A) retinal pericyte and (C) endothelial cell cultures maintained for 7 days i) with 5 mM glucose and without 10 μM cariporide; ii) with 30 mM glucose and without 10 μM cariporide; and iii) with 30 mM glucose and 10 μM cariporide. Magnification, ×100. Blue fluorescence corresponds to 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-stained nuclei. Right, percentage of TUNEL-positive cells among (B) retinal pericyte and (D) endothelial cell cultured as described above. C, control group (5 mM glucose); G, 30 mM glucose; Ca, cariporide. n=5–8/group. **P<0.01 vs. the cells cultured in 5 mM glucose; ##P<0.01 vs. the cells cultured in 30 mM glucose without 10 μM cariporide.