Figure 6. K5R expression is suppressed in the retina of diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in adult rats with an injection of STZ and monitored by blood glucose levels. The rats with blood glucose levels higher than 350 mg/dl were used as diabetic rats. Retinas were isolated from diabetic rats at 2, 5, and 8 weeks after the STZ injection. Retinal mRNA levels of K5R were quantified with real-time RT–PCR and normalized by the 18s RNA level. The normalized K5R mRNA levels were expressed as % of that in non-diabetic control (mean±SD, n=3). Values significantly lower than control are indicated (*p<0.05). Diabetic rats showed significantly reduced K5R mRNA levels in the retina, compared to non-diabetic rats.