Fig. 1.

Whole-blood leukocyte levels return to normal levels following radiation therapy. Mice were γ-irradiated at 2–3 months of age, and whole-blood samples were taken directly before irradiation, 1 h, 6 h, 24 h, or 1 month following radiation therapy (n = 5 for all time-points). Whole-blood leukocyte numbers were depleted shortly after radiation therapy but returned to normal within 1 month. Thus, the inhibition of monocyte-like cell entry at the optic nerve head following radiation therapy is unlikely to be due to long-term depletion of leukocytes. ***P < 0.001. ns no significant difference (P > 0.05)