Figure 1.

β5 integrin–deficient mice lose vision with age. We recorded scotopic ERG responses obtained after a light flash stimulus attenuated with 0.4 log ND (a, c, and d) or attenuated as indicated (b). We compared a-wave (left) and b-wave (right) amplitudes of control (open circles) and β5^−/− (closed diamonds) mice. A-wave amplitudes are given as absolute values. (a) Representative ERG responses are diminished in 12-mo-old β5^−/− mice (right) compared with wild-type mice (left). Both a- and b-wave peaks (arrows) are affected. (b) Mean scotopic responses to flashes of different intensities are decreased in 12-mo-old β5^−/− mice. Asterisks indicate significant differences between wild-type and β5^−/− amplitudes at the same flash intensity (n = 5–7, Student's t test, *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01). (c) Responses of individual animals (c) and of averages (d) illustrate decline of retinal function in β5^−/− mice with age. Asterisks indicate significant differences between wild-type and β5^−/− amplitudes at the same age (n = 5–7, Student's t test, *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01).