Figure 2. A single intravitreous ET-1
injection and elevated intraocular pressure reduced AQP4 mRNA in rat
retinas. Four microliters of HEPES-buffered ET-1 (2 nmol) or HEPES
vehicle, was injected into the vitreous of the left eye and 2 days
later, retinas were removed, total RNA was isolated and transcribed
into cDNA. IOP was elevated using the Morrison Method [22]. mRNAs for
AQP4 transcripts were significantly lower compared to controls
following 2 days of ET-injection (~ 45%, A). Elevation of IOP
also decreased AQP4 transcripts by ~ 33%, as determined by quantitative
real-time PCR (B). Gene expression data of AQP4 is calculated
after normalizing with β-actin. Data are expressed as ratio of
control±SEM and the asterisk denotes a significant difference compared
with control-retinas at p<0.05.