Analysis of both eyes in all animals in both groups showed that the rate of GAG synthesis in the posterior sclera was significantly greater than in the anterior sclera (
n = 30, mean ± SE cpm, posterior sclera 10,313 ± 1,551 vs. anterior sclera 4,195 ± 730, paired
t-test,
P < 0.01; see
Fig. 4Afor a breakdown by group and treated or control eye). The difference in GAG synthesis rate in the treated and control eyes (treated − control) was examined in both experimental groups at both locations in the sclera
(Fig. 4B) . Only the posterior scleras of the treated eyes in group 1 showed a significant difference in the rate of GAG synthesis relative to their controls (mean ± SE cpm, treated − control, group 1 posterior sclera −3,994 ± 1,068, one-sample
t-test,
P < 0.01; group 1 anterior sclera −1,798 ± 1,370, one-sample
t-test,
P = 0.230; group 2 posterior sclera 4,166 ± 2,348, one-sample
t-test,
P = 0.126; group 2 anterior sclera, 918 ± 769, one-sample
t-test,
P = 0.278). The interocular difference in the rate of GAG synthesis was significantly different between the groups in the posterior sclera (group 1 vs. group 2, mean ± SE cpm, −3,994 ± 1,068 vs. 2,451 ± 1,790, unpaired
t-test,
P < 0.01), but not in the anterior sclera (mean ± SE cpm, −1,798 ± 1,370 vs. 918 ± 769, unpaired
t-test,
P = 0.12). There was no significant difference in the rate of GAG synthesis in the posterior sclera of the control eyes between the two groups (mean ± SE cpm, group 1 vs. group 2, 1.44 × 10
4 ± 0.39 × 10
4 vs. 0.59 × 10
4 ± 0.16 × 10
4, unpaired
t-test,
P = 0.08).