Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Sep 1.
Published in final edited form as: Exp Eye Res. 2015 Jul 26;150:44–61. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2015.07.016

Figure 3. Multiple GFAP-positive cells exited the retina through one point to create glial blooms.

Figure 3

Retinas stained with anti-GFAP are shown. (A, B) Low magnification tiled images showing posterior pole regions containing glial blooms (arrows). An asterisk indicates the fovea. (C) Higher magnification of two glial blooms joined by fine processes (arrow). (D) A glial bloom at high magnification shows multiple stalks exiting from one site in the retina (arrow). (E) In some cases, thick processes terminated as arborizations, creating a net-like appearance. (F) In others, stalks branched into multiple long fine processes (arrow). (G) The astrocytes in the retina below have a normal pattern with only a focal disruption where cells exited the retina (arrow). (H) Three dimensional rendering further demonstrates that this bloom lies above the normal astrocyte layer (asterisk). (I) The exit of glial processes from the retina (arrow) is evident in the cross section rendering. (J) Another example of a glial bloom is shown along with the cross sectional view demonstrating the bright GFAP labeling above the retina. An asterisk indicates an area without glial cells on the vitreoretinal surface where retinal astrocytes are visible. (K) The arborizations of the thick glial processes shown by the arrow in “J” are shown at higher magnification. (L) Three dimensional rendering of a bloom shows the layer of astrocytes below (asterisk). Scale bars indicate: A, B: 500 μm; C, D, G, H, J, L: 50 μm; E, F, I, K: 20 μm.