Research Article

Apelin-13 Is an Early Promoter of Cytoskeleton and Tight Junction in Diabetic Macular Edema via PI-3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk Signaling Pathways

Figure 7

Inhibition of apelin receptor APJ with F13A dramatically reduces pathological vascular permeability in db/db mice. (a-b) The IF results showed that the phosphorylation of tight junction proteins (occluding and ZO-1) decreased in F13A treated groups. Cells were stained with DAPI for visualization of nuclei (blue). Scale bar = 50 μm. Images represent results from 3 individual mice in each group. GCL: ganglion cell layer; INL: inner nuclear layer; ONL: outer nuclear layer. Protein intensity was quantified by Image J software and expressed as fold of change relative to control (mean ± SD, ). 1M: 1 month; 9M: 9 months.
(a)
(b)