Figure 2.

Astrocyte and endothelial migration occur in parallel to retinal growth during formation of the superficial RVP. (a) Extent of astrocyte (Pax2, red) and endothelial cells (isolectin-B4, green) migration in confocal images of immunohistochemically stained murine retinal whole mounts at various embryonic and post-natal stages (day of birth P0 = E21.5). Note the retina has been cut and flattened into a petal-like shape. Images at E15.5 and E18.5 are high-power magnifications of the optic nerve head region, from which astrocyte and endothelial cells migration occur (Scale bar, 75 µm). The P0–P8 images show a single ‘leaf’ of the flattened retina with the optic nerve head at the bottom of each (Scale bar, 120 µm). White arrowheads at P0, P3 and P8 indicate the edge of the retina; red arrowheads at E15.5, P0 and P3 indicate the extent of astrocyte migration; white arrows at E18.5, P5 and P8 indicate remnants of the embryonic hyaloid blood vessels. (b) Quantification of retinal radius, and extent of astrocyte and endothelial migration during formation of the superficial RVP in neonatal mice. Distances are measured from the centre of the optic nerve; mean ± s.e.m., n ≥ 4 at each time point.