Fig. 4. TF expression preserves the detached retina in mice.

(A) Semithin retinal sections from control WT mice without RD and WT and TG mice expressing hTF 7 days after RD (red asterisks). In TG mice, the histology of the detached retina (brackets) was less disrupted than in WT mice, with remaining OS (arrowheads). Nuclei were stained with toluidine blue. Measurements of total retinal thickness in the detached area were reported to undetached retina thickness. (B) Expression of hTF in mice (TG) reduced thickening of the total retina and ONL. Mann-Whitney test (n = 5), *P < 0.05. (C) Rhodopsin staining in OS was conserved in TG compared with WT mice (arrowheads) 7 days after RD. The length of OS measured on semithin sections was higher in TG mice compared with WT mice. Mann-Whitney test (n = 6), *P = 0.047 (D) Arrestin staining revealed cones in retinal sections of TG mice (arrows) 7 days after RD. Cone number was higher in TG compared with WT mice. Mann-Whitney test (n = 6), *P = 0.025. (E) Müller glial cell activation revealed by GFAP expression was lower in TG mice compared with WT mice (arrows). Mann-Whitney test (n = 5), **P = 0.0056. (F) Cellular markers of apoptosis were lower in TG compared to WT mouse retinas. Caspase 8 mRNA level by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and the ratio of cleaved/pro–caspase 3 protein levels was determined by Western blotting performed 4 days after RD. TUNEL staining was performed in eyes collected 7 days after RD. Mann-Whitney test (n = 5), **P = 0.008 and *P = 0.028. (G) Necrotic RIP kinase protein level, detected by Western blotting, was reduced in TG mice compared with WT mice. Mann-Whitney test (n = 3), *P = 0.028. IS, inner segment. Scale bars, 100 μm (A, E, and F) and 50 μm (C and D). All values are represented as the mean ± SEM.