Figure 11

Neuronal protection in diabetic retinas by P78. (A) Nuclear staining of fixed retinas with PI showing the various nuclear layers in the control vehicle (AT) and peptide-treated diabetic retinas. A loss of cells in the RGL (arrows) was noted in the diabetic condition and a reduction in cell drop out in the peptide-treated retinas. (B, C) Higher magnification of the RGL in the diabetic control (*) and treated (**) samples in (A) showing cell dropout (arrows) in the RGL in controls compared with the treated groups (scale bar = 50 µmol/L). (D) Cell counts confirm a loss of cells in the RGL in diabetic retinas (p = 0.04) (ND versus NT) and cell rescue after treatment with P78 (p = 0.03). (E) Measurements of the mean thickness of the IPL also indicate that P78 was effective in reducing IPL thinning (p = 0.04). The difference between AT and P60 was insignificant (n = 12). All values are means ± SD.