Differentially Expressed MicroRNAs in the Development of Early Diabetic Retinopathy

Figure 3

Abnormal expression of miRNAs in the retinas of rats with STZ-induced diabetes. (a) Body weight and (b) blood glucose levels of normal control (NC) and DM rats (). After intraperitoneal injection of STZ (65 mg/kg) in citrate buffer (pH 4.5), the body weight of DM rats was significantly lower and blood glucose levels increased 5-fold relative to the corresponding values measured for NC rats. (c) Expression of miR-124-3p and -125b-5p was downregulated in parallel with DR progression, whereas the levels of miR-135b-5p, -145-5p, -146a-5p, and -199a-5p decreased during the early stage of DR before increasing in the later stages of DR. ; ; , compared with NC.

(a)

(b)

(c)