Figure 1.

Genetic inactivation of A₁Rs does not affect the normal development of retinal vessels in mice. (A) The development of retina vasculature of WT and A₁R KO mice at P3, P7, P12, and P17 in room air was visualized by isolectin B4 staining in whole-mount retinas. Vascularized areas and whole retinal surface are shown by yellow dotted line and white dotted line, respectively. The superficial vascularized areas of retinas at P3 (n = 3/group) and P7 (n = 3/group) were quantified as a percentage of the whole retinal area. At P12 (n = 6/group) and P17 (n = 8/group), “branch point” analysis was used for quantification of retinal vascularization under room air. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Scale bar: 500 μm. (B) The distributions of three retinal vascular layers were displayed in distinct confocal planes. The retinal images from P12 and P17 of WT and A₁R KO in room air were examined by isolectin B4 staining of whole-mount retinas. The development of morphology and distribution of superficial, intermediate, and deep plexuses were indistinguishable between WT and A₁R KO mice. Scale bar: 50 μm.