Figure 5. rAAV-2-mediated overexpression of Brn3b produced an increase in Bcl-2 expression in the RGCs of Brown Norway rats with elevated IOP. A: Brown Norway rats with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) were intravitreally injected with either recombinant adenoassociated virus–cytomegalovirus promoter–green fluorescent protein (rAAV-CMV-GFP) or rAAV-CMV-Brn3b. Retinal sections obtained were immunostained for Bcl-2 (pseudogreen) and βIII-tubulin (pseudored). B: The L/R ratio of fluorescence intensity of Bcl-2 immunostaining in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from rats intravitreally injected with either rAAV-CMV-GFP or rAAV-CMV-Brn3b is plotted. Densitometry analysis shows a significant increase in Bcl-2 expression in RGCs transduced with rAAV-CMV-Brn3b, compared to RGCs transduced with rAAV-CMV-GFP in the rats with elevated IOP. Student t test was used for statistical analysis (*p<0.05). Values are represented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM), n = 3. Scale bar indicates 20 µm. C: Brown Norway rats had elevated IOP and subsequently were intravitreally injected with either rAAV-CMV-GFP or rAAV-CMV-Brn3b. Retinal sections obtained were immunostained for Bcl-xL (pseudogreen) and βIII-tubulin (pseudored). D: A plot of the L/R ratio of fluorescence intensities of Bcl-xL immunostaining in the RGCs of rats intravitreally injected with either rAAV-CMV-GFP or rAAV-CMV-Brn3b. An increasing trend in Bcl-xL expression (not statistically significant) was observed in rats intravitreally injected with rAAV-CMV-Brn3b, compared to those administered the control vector.