Figure 6.

Loss of autophagy in the RPE results in disruption of the normal interface with Bruch's membrane. (A, B) Staining of retinal sections with an antibody against CD29, a component of the ITGB1/integrin β-1 complex and a marker of the basal surface of the RPE, shows disruption of the normally continuous linear structure. (C) Histological section of a retina from an 8-mo-old Rb1cc1-CKO mouse shows a focus of vascular ingrowth from the choroid through the RPE and into the retina (red arrow), consistent with a focus of choroidal neovascularization. (F) This finding was also seen on OCT imaging of the retina (red arrow). (E, F) Staining with the vascular marker, IB4, confirms that the ingrowth contained blood vessels. GCL, ganglion cell layer; INL, inner nuclear layer; IS, inner segment; ONL, outer nuclear layer; OS, outer segment; RPE, retinal pigment epithelium.