FIGURE 2.

RPE integrity and visual function are impaired in both inducible Dgcr8^flox/floxCre^v+ and Dicer1^flox/floxCre^v+ mice. A, immunostaining of flat mounted RPE for the tight junction protein ZO-1 revealed a disruption of RPE organization in 8-week-old Dgcr8^flox/floxCre^v+ mice. Scale bar, 50 μm. B, single-flash ERG responses of increasing light intensity for and Dgcr8^flox/flox, Cre^v+, and Dgcr8^flox/floxCre^v+ mice were obtained under dark-adapted conditions. C, ERG recordings revealed a reduction in both scotopic a-wave and photopic b-wave amplitudes, reflective of rod- and cone-driven vision, respectively, in 8-week-old Dgcr8^flox/floxCre^v+ and Dicer1^flox/floxCre^v+ mice as compared with control animals. Error bars, S.D. from measurements of at least 5 animals/genotype and time point. p values were <0.001 calculated for Dgcr8^flox/floxCre^v+ versus Dgcr8^flox/flox or Dicer1^flox/floxCre^v+ versus Dicer1^flox/flox (black asterisks) and Dgcr8^flox/floxCre^v+ versus Cre^v+ (red asterisks)