Fig. 1.

Nestin and Iba-1 expression in control and degenerated adult mouse retina.

Immunofluorescent labeling with nestin (green), Iba-1(red), and DAPI (blue) is shown. DAPI was used for nuclei staining to visualize the retinal layers. The decrease in thickness of the ONL due to selective loss of photoreceptor cells was becoming obvious by day 3 after MNU injection. Progressive loss of photoreceptor cells ultimately led to a complete loss of the ONL at day 7 PI. Immunoreactivity of nestin was increased at day 1 PI, peaked at day 3, and declined gradually until day 21. MNU treatment resulted in migrating nestin+/Iba-1+ cells into the ONL. The number of nestin+/Iba-1+ cells peaked at day 3 PI. After that, the number of nestin+/Iba-1+ cells diminished progressively, particularly at day 7, and the cells were sparsely distributed by day 21. Arrows indicate nestin/Iba-1 co-immunolabeling.

Iba-1 = ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule, DAPI = 4-6-diamino-2-phenylindole, ONL = outer nuclear layer, MNU = N-methyl-N-nitrosourea, PI = post injection, OPL = outer plexiform layer, INL = inner nuclear layer, IPL = inner plexiform layer.