Figure 1.

Irbp-deficient mice exhibit early and progressive photoreceptor cell loss. Eyes from wild-type (C57BL/6) and Irbp-deficient (Rbp3^−/−) mice were fixed in 2% paraformaldehyde and 2% glutaraldehyde, embedded in JB-4 plastic, and Lee's stained sections of retina/RPE/choroid (5 μm) were imaged on a Nikon Eclipse E800 microscope with DMX1200 digital camera. Measurements of outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness obtained using Image ProPlus 5.0 software were plotted versus distance from the optic nerve head (ONH) ± S.D. and are shown alongside representative micrographs of the superior retina about 500 μm from the optic nerve. Top, C57BL/6 mice: 5 weeks (■, n = 3); 3 months (●, n = 3); 1 year (▴, n = 5). Bottom, Irbp-deficient mice: 6 weeks (□, n = 3); 3 months (○, n = 3); 1 year (▵, n = 4).