Figure 5. Levels of rds/peripherin are maintained in degenerating retinas

A. Relative amounts of opsin and rds/peripherin in control, degenerating and rescued retinas. Values are normalized to the amounts of each protein in control retinas with an attached RPE. In the absence of the RPE, photoreceptors downregulate expression of opsin, while maintaining constant the level of rds/peripherin. Mannose does not increase the opsin expression, however, it does cause an elevation in rds/peripherin levels. Lactose prevents the downregulation of opsin induced by RPE removal while simultaneously stimulating an upregulation of rds/peripherin. * = p < 0.05 compared to healthy retinas maintained with an adherent RPE. B. Representative immunoblot illustrating the differences in opsin and rds/peripherin protein expression under the various experimental conditions.

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