VE-cadherin (A) and HS-GAG (B) protein expression assessed by immunofluorescent (IF) staining in GECs exposed to 5.6 mM glucose (NG), NG+24.4 mM mannitol (NG+M), NG+10⁻⁷ M L-158,809 (NG+ARB), 30 mM glucose (HG) and HG+ARB. There was no significant change in VE-cadherin protein expression, whereas HS-GAG protein expression was significantly lower in GECs exposed to HG medium compared with NG cells. In addition, the decrease in HS-GAG protein expression in HG-stimulated GECs was significantly attenuated by L-158,809 (×200). *P < 0.01 versus NG, NG+M and NG+ARB groups, ^#P < 0.01 versus HG group.