FIGURE 5.

The photoreceptor cell loss in the CKO mice started in cone photoreceptor cells, followed by rod cells. Rod and cone photoreceptor cells were labeled with anti-rhodopsin antibody (red) and PNA (light blue), respectively. A and D, at P12 photoreceptor cells in the retina of the CKO and control mice presented a similar staining pattern for rod and cone cells. B and E, however, PNA-labeled cone cells disappeared by P15 in the CKO mice while rhodopsin localized abnormally in ONL. C and F, cone or rod photoreceptor cells were absent in the CKO mouse retina by P21. Normal maturation and OS formation was observed in the CKO mouse retina. Scale bar, 50 μm.