Apelin Protects Primary Rat Retinal Pericytes from Chemical Hypoxia-Induced Apoptosis

Figure 1

Immunostaining of APJ and pericyte in fibrovascular membranes. (a–d) Immunostaining for APJ (a), pericyte marker desmin (b), and DAPI (c) in fibrovascular membranes from eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Staining intensities of APJ were strong and were colocalized with pericyte, as identified by desmin. (e–h) Staining of APJ (e), desmin (f), and DAPI (g) in epiretinal macular membranes (EMM) of control patients without diabetic retinopathy. None of APJ (e) and staining of desmin (f) were observed. Scale bar = 100 μm.