Figure 6.

Photoreceptor layer size, rhodopsin labeling intensity, and ONL thickness. NaIO₃ injection damages the RPE layer that nourishes the photoreceptor layer. Rhodopsin is a light-sensitive protein found in rod cells. (a) Retinal slices were stained with propidium iodide (nuclear dye) and rhodopsin antibody (green). The size of the photoreceptor layer (b) was measured by ImageJ software. The photoreceptor layer in the retinas treated with ASCs was larger compared to that in the PBS-treated retinas (p value = 0.0505). (c) ONL thickness was assessed by counting the number of nuclei rows at different points along the retinal length. ASC-treated eyes had significantly more photoreceptor cells than PBS-treated mice (p value = 0.0013). Bar = 50 μM; yellow arrows indicate the PR layer. PR: photoreceptor layer; ONL: outer nuclear layer; INL: inner nuclear layer; RGC: retinal ganglion layer. n = 8 for each studied group.