Combination of Neuroprotective and Regenerative Agents for AGE-Induced Retinal Degeneration: In Vitro Study

Figure 4

Representative photomicrographs of cultured retinas exposed to AGEs. Immunopositive caspase-9-positive cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL). In retinas cultured in glucose-AGE-BSA media (b), the number of immunopositive cells in the GCL is significantly higher than in serum-free control media (a). In AGEs-exposed retinas supplemented with NT-4 media (glucose-AGE-BSA + NT-4) (g), in the triplet media (glucose-AGE-BSA + citicoline + TUDCA + NT-4) (h), in the doublet media (glucose-AGE-BSA + citicoline + TUDCA) (f), in citicoline media (glucose-AGE-BSA + citicoline) (d), in TUDCA media (glucose-AGE-BSA + TUDCA) (e), and in RAGE inhibitor media (glucose-AGE-BSA + RAGE-I) (c), the number of caspase-9-immunopositive cells is fewer than that in AGEs-exposed retinas without the neurotrophic factors. The blue staining shows the DAPI-stained nuclei. Bar = 20 μm. GCL: ganglion cell layer, INL: inner nuclear layer, and ONL: outer nuclear layer.