The effect of melanopsin overexpression is cell autonomous. (A) Whole-mount retinas from mice at 2 wk after crush. Mice were coinjected with AAV-shBax and AAV-Mela. Retinas were stained with Tuj1 (red) antibody. (B) Quantification of RGC survival in three groups. *P < 0.05, ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test, three mice in each group. (C) Sections of optic nerves from mice injected with AAV-Mela together with AAV-shRNA-scramble (shScr) or AAV-shRNA-Bax (shBax). (D) Whole-mount retinas from mice with AAV-Mela showing SMI32+ and Melanopsin+ RGCs retrogradely labeled with FG by direct injection into the optic nerve in vivo. SMI32 and melanopsin were costained in 95% of FG+ RGCs. (Scale bars: A, and D, 50 μm; C, 100 μm.)