Table 1.

Intact, tracing control, and contralateral to the injury retinas

		Intact (n = 4)	Tracing control		Contralateral (n = 80/72*)
			7 days (n = 8)	2 months (n = 4)
RNFL/GCL	Brn3a+RGCs	82,530 ± 766	81,504 ± 798	81,368 ± 491	81,486 ± 2272
	FG+RGCs		81,829 ± 1246	58,948§ ± 3381	81,513 ± 1425
RNFL/GCL	SMCs	14,151 ± 1186
	PMCs		0 ± 0	6 ± 2	1 ± 3
IPL/INL	SMCs	11,006 ± 989
	PMCs		0 ± 0	1 ± 1
GCC	SMCs	25,156 ± 1367	0 ± 0
	PMCs		0 ± 0	7 ± 3

Mean number ± standard deviation of Brn3a⁺RGCs, FG⁺RGCs, surveying microglial cells (SMCs), and phagocytic microglial cells (PMCs) counted in the same retinas within each group. PMCs were quantified in the retinas that had been traced with fluorogold 7 days or 2 months before sacrifice to match the tracing standard (7 days) and the longer tracing times used in the injured retinas (see Table 2)

FG fluorogold, RGCs retinal ganglion cells, RNFL/GCL retinal nerve fiber layer/ganglion cell layer, IPL/INL inner plexiform layer + inner limit inner nuclear layer, GCC ganglion cell complex (RFNL/GCL + IPL/INL)

^§The number of FG⁺RGCs 2 months after tracing is significantly smaller than at 7 days because FG is not a permanent dye [39, 41, 42], while the number of Brn3a⁺RGCs remains unaltered. In 2-month traced retinas, there are some PMCs, although this is not significant compared to 7 days of tracing or intact retinas (one-way ANOVA, Tukey’s post hoc test, p > 0.05)

*The number of contralateral retinas amounts to 80 for Brn3a⁺RGCs and PMCs (see Table 2) and to 72 for FG⁺RGCs (2-month time point excluded). No significant differences were observed between contralateral and control or intact retinas (one-way ANOVA test, Tukey’s post hoc test, p > 0.05)