Figure 4. Cx43 downregulation promotes acellular capillary and pericyte loss in the retinal capillary networks. Representative images of the retinal capillary network stained with hematoxylin and periodic acid-Schiff showing acellular capillaries (ACs) and pericyte loss (PL) in the control rats (A, F), diabetic rats (B, G), rats intravitreally injected with Cx43 siRNA (C, H), and rats intravitreally injected with scrambled siRNA (D, I). Insets: enlarged images showing AC (long arrows) or PL (arrowheads) in the retinal trypsin digestion (RTD) preparations of the capillary networks. E: Percentage change in the number of ACs. The average number of ACs in the retinas of the diabetic rats and rats intravitreally injected with Cx43 siRNA was significantly increased compared with the control. * p<0.05. J: Percentage change in the amount of PL. The average amount of PL in the retinas of the diabetic rats and the rats intravitreally injected with Cx43 siRNA was significantly increased compared with that of the control rats. N, normal; DM, diabetic; Cx43, Cx43 siRNA; Scram, scrambled siRNA. Data are presented as mean ± SD (*p<0.05, n=4). Scale bar = 50 μm.