Figure 3. Effects of dexamethasone on zonula occludens 1 and connexin 43 in normal trabecular meshwork cells. Fixed normal trabecular meshwork (NTM) cells were immunolabeled with zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) and connexin 43 (Cx43) (green fluorescence) and observed under a confocal microscope, using identical parameters. The ZO-1 antibody recognizes both α+ and α– isoforms of ZO-1. Both ZO-1 and Cx43 were plasma membrane bound. Treatment with 10⁻⁷ mol/l dexamethasone (DEX) for 2 days resulted in no significant changes in expression and distribution of ZO-1. However, DEX increased the cytoplasmic pool of Cx43. Nuclei are shown by DAPI staining (blue fluorescence). The scale bar=20 μm.