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. 2019 Sep;189(9):1814–1830. doi: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2019.05.022

Figure 2.

Figure 2

LS-HepcKO mice have retinal iron accumulation in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). A: Graphs of relative transferrin receptor (Tfrc) mRNA levels, determined by real-time quantitative PCR, in RPE of LS-HepcKO mice versus controls (Hepc+/+;Alb-Cre+) at the indicated ages. Groups marked with a different symbol are significantly different from each other (P < 0.05), as determined by two-way analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey adjustment. B: Relative Dmt1 mRNA levels in RPE of LS-HepcKO mice versus controls (Hepc+/+;Alb-Cre+ or Hepcflox/+;Alb-Cre+). C–H: Perls histochemical iron staining of cryosections at 3, 6, and 12 months. Control mice do not show any labeling in the RPE at any of the time points (C–E). LS-HepcKO mice show progressively stronger labeling in the RPE with age (F–H, black arrowheads). Inductively coupled mass spectrometry of RPE from LS-HepcKO and control mice at 6 months (I and J). I: There is significantly more iron within the RPE of the LS-HepcKO mice when compared with controls. J: There is also an elevated iron/zinc ratio in the RPE of LS-HepcKO mice compared with controls. Data are expressed as means ± SEM (A, B, I, and J). n = 3 per genotype (C–H). ∗P < 0.05, ∗∗P < 0.01 versus control (I and J). Scale bars = 50 μm (C–H).