Figure 8. Analysis of glia and microglia cells in host and transplant.

(a–d) GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein, green). (a) In an NIH rat with normal retina, GFAP is only expressed in astrocytes on retinal surface and along blood vessels. (b) In a sham surgery RD rat, GFAP is also strongly expressed in Müller cells, in addition to astrocytes. (c,d) GFAP (green) and Ku80 (human nuclei, red) expression in a transplanted RD rat (#6). There is more GFAP staining in the retinal degenerate host than in transplant. Some donor cells have migrated into host retina.

(e–h) CRALBP (cellular retinaldehyde binding protein, green). (e) CRALBP in Müller cells and RPE of a NIH rat with normal retina. (f) CRALBP expression in Müller cells and RPE of a sham surgery RD rat. (g,h) CRALBP and SC121 (human cytoplasm, red) staining in Müller cells and RPE of a transplanted RD rat (#13). Donor processes (SC121 +) extend into the host INL and IPL. The Müller cells in the transplant rosettes are radially oriented.

(i–l) Iba1 (microglia, green) in combination with (j–l) CD68 (activated macrophages, red). (i) Microglia in IPL and OPL of a NIH rat with normal retina. (j) microglia (green) and activated macrophages (red) staining in a sham surgery RD rat. Microglia are mainly observed in IPL and subretinal space; while activated macrophages are mainly found in the choroid. (k,l) Iba1 (green) and CD68 (red) staining in a transplanted RD rat (#13). Iba1 + microglia are seen in both host and donor and CD68 + cells were mostly restricted to the choroid and not found in the transplant. (d), (h) and (l) were enlargement of the boxed area in (c), (g) and (k) respectively. Scale bars: 50 μm. GCL = ganglion cell layer, IPL = inner plexiform layer, INL = inner nuclear layer, ONL = outer nuclear layer; -h = host, -t = transplant