Fig. 5.

Autofluorescence in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Autofluorescence at the RPE level was measured in four distinct areas on retinal sections along the dorso-ventral axis: dorso-peripheral (DP), dorso-central (DC), ventro-central (VC) and ventro-peripheral (VP). Dapi-labelled nuclei are shown in blue while grey levels correspond to the autoflorescence measured under a 556-nm excitation light. Scale bar represents 1 mm (a). Representative pictures of autofluorescence observed at the RPE level in one control and one GES-treated mouse in each area. Dapi-labelled nuclei correspond to choroid cells (C) and RPE cells (R). The corresponding autofluorescence measurement is represented on the graph at the right. Note the increase in autofluorescence observed in GES-treated animals at the RPE level. Horizontal axis corresponds to arbitrary units of autofluorescence and vertical axis corresponds to distance from RPE (μm). Scale bar represents 20 μm (b). Mean maximal values of autofluorescence at the RPE level according to retina area and treatment. Significant increase of autofluorescence in DP, DC and VP areas were found in GES mice (SEM, n = 8, P < 0.05, asterisk denotes Mann–Whitney test) (c)