Fig. 4.

The injury response of the repopulating retina after tamoxifen-induced DTA depletion was diminished compared to controls. CD11c^DTR/GFP:CX3CR1^YFP-creER:ROSA^DTA mice were given tamoxifen (2.5 mg on three alternating days) or left untreated (Unt, no tamoxifen) and then given an ONC and harvested at the indicated day post-tamoxifen with retinas analyzed by flow cytometry. a Appearance of GFP^hi cells in substantial numbers at 7 days post-ONC in untreated (no tamoxifen) mice. b Quantification of the retinal myeloid cell response to an ONC in untreated mice. Open circles indicate GFP^hiYFP^hi cells and open squares indicate GFP^loYFP^hi cells. c–e The injury response was strongly attenuated in tamoxifen-induced DTA-ablated retinas, even if performed after nominal repopulation. The analyzed cell populations include total CD45⁺CD11b⁺Ly6G⁻ cells (c), GFP^hiYFP^hi cells (d), and GFP^loYFP^hi cells (e). Cell numbers are given as mean ± SD with 4–8 samples at each time point. Ipsi-ONC (tamoxifen plus ONC, open symbols) and spontaneously (spon) recovering retinas (tamoxifen only, closed symbols) indicated. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01 for ONC versus non-ONC retinas