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

Figure 6

Effect of apelin on cell viability and migration under hypoxia. Cell viability was evaluated by MTS assay and migration was assessed with a transwell cell chamber. (A) In hypoxic pericytes, the viability of cells stimulated by apelin was significantly enhanced during 12 h (8 h versus CoCl₂  ; 12 h versus CoCl₂  ). (B) Viability of pericytes treated with apelin and LV-apelin knockout under hypoxia. Compared with the CoCl₂ group, viability was significantly increased in the apelin group (P < 0.05). Moreover, cell viability was significantly reduced in the LV-apelin knockout group (LV-GFP versus LV-apelin, P < 0.05; CoCl₂ versus LV-apelin, P < 0.05). (C) and (D) Pericyte migration induced by apelin under hypoxia (a: control; b: CoCl₂ 150 µmol; and c: CoCl₂ 150 µmol + apelin 100 ng/mL). The number of migrated cells per HPF is shown. Apelin versus CoCl₂. Scale bar = 200 µm.