Figure 1.

Characterization of blue light-emitting diode (LED)-induced retinal degeneration (RD) in mice. (A) Representative scotopic electroretinography (ERG) responses in unexposed control (black) and blue LED-induced retinas at 0 (orange), 24 (blue), 72 (red), and 120 h (green). All ERG components showed progressive reductions in a time-dependent manner. (B) Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining of representative retinal tissue sections. Consistent with ERG findings, retinal thickness decreased in a time-dependent manner. Prominent decreases were observed in the outer nuclear layer (ONL). GCL, ganglion cell layer; INL, inner nuclear layer; IPL, inner plexiform layer; IS/OS, inner segment and outer segment; OPL, outer plexiform layer; RPE, retinal pigment epithelium. (C) Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dutp nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining on a vertical section of eyecup taken from an RD mouse at 72 h after blue LED exposure. Numerous TUNEL-positive photoreceptors were observed in the ONL of the central retina (arrows) near the optic disc (od), while few TUNEL-positive cells were observed in the peripheral retina (arrowheads) near the ora serrata (os). 4′,6-diamidino-2′-phenylindole (DAPI) staining was used to label the nuclei of retinal cells.