Figure 6.

Electron micrographs showing debris-laden macrophages near small optic nerve vessels in BMC and CXCR1^−/− mice. A: A blood-derived monocyte (M) without any signs of phagolysosomes in close contact to an endothelial cell (arrow) in the vessel lumen (VL) of a capillary in the retrobulbar perioptic nerve region. B: Macrophage with phagocytosed photoreceptor material (arrow) in the subretinal space at the microvilli margin of a retinal pigment epithelium cell (PE). C and D: Interstitial macrophages filled with debris (arrows) in close contact to basal lamina and endothelial cells. Note attachment of macrophage to endothelial cell external membrane (arrowhead). E and F: Macrophage with engulfed photoreceptor debris in the process of diapedesis through an optic nerve head capillary, the cell nucleus is inside the capillary whereas parts of the debris-containing cytoplasm is still externally located (arrow).