Figure 5.

Immunohistochemistry of retinal neurons of BN-J rats. Different neuronal types are immunostained with specific markers in the BN-H retina: Cone arrestin stains the entire cone photoreceptors, including outer segments and synaptic bodies (A), rhodopsin stains the outer segments (OS) of rod photoreceptors (F), PKC-α labels the bipolar cells (I), and synaptophysin labels synaptic connections between retinal neurons (M). B, F, J and N are merged images with DAPI (blue). In the BN-J retina, cone segments are shorter or even absent (C, arrowhead) and cones are missing in cystic formations (C, asterisk) and nuclei of some cones without segments are displaced (C, arrow). Cell count shows significant reduction of cone cells in BN-J rats (E). Rods are absent in disorganized area (G, asterisk) and their segments are shorter in other regions (G, arrows), suggesting segment elongation disruption. Quantification of rhodopsin-positive surface shows significant decrease in rod outer segment areas in BN-J rats (H). In disorganized areas, nuclei of bipolar cell are internally displaced (K, circle) and neuronal synapses are disrupted in the outer plexiform layer (OPL, O, arrows). D, G, L and P are merged images with DAPI. GCL, Ganglion cell layer; IPL, inner plexiform layer. Scale bars: A–D, F, G, M–P, 50 μm; I–L, 20 μm. For E and H, n = 5 rats per strain; **p < 0.01.