Altered Expression of NF-κB and SP1 after Exposure to Advanced Glycation End-Products and Effects of Neurotrophic Factors in AGEs Exposed Rat Retinas

Figure 2

Representative photomicrographs of NF-κB immunopositive cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) of isolated rat retinas. In retinas cultured in glucose-AGE-BSA (f), the number of immunopositive cells in the GCL is significantly higher than in serum-free control media (a). In AGEs exposed retinas supplemented with NT-4 (glucose-AGE-BSA + NT-4) (g), with HGF (glucose-AGE-BSA + HGF) (h), with GDNF (glucose-AGE-BSA + GDNF) (i), and with TUDCA (glucose-AGE-BSA + TUDCA) (j) the number of NF-κB immunopositive cells is fewer than that in AGEs exposed retinas without neurotrophic factors. The blue staining shows the DAPI-stained nuclei. Panels (b), (c), (d), and (e) are pictures of the serum-free media supplemented with NT-4 (b), HGF (c), GDNF (d), and TUDCA (e). INL, inner nuclear layer; ONL, outer nuclear layer. Bar = 20 μm.