Figure 3.

rAAV intervention of GSDMD-C prevents RD-induced photoreceptor pyroptosis and subsequent apoptosis. (A) Representative TOTO-3 iodide staining in the ONL 1 day after experimental RD in rats treated with BSS, rAAV2/8–GSDMD-C, or rAAV2/8–eGFP. DAPI staining was used to visualize the cell nuclei (n = 6). Scale bars: 25 µm. (B) Quantification of TOTO-3-positive cells 1 day after RD in all four groups (n = 6). Data are expressed as the mean ± SD. Statistical analysis was performed via ANOVA with Bonferroni correction for the three independent experiments. (C) Representative TEM photographs among the four groups 1 day after experimental RD (n = 6). Scale bars: 2 µm. (D) Quantification of pyroptotic/necrotic cell counts 1 day after RD in all four groups (n = 6). Data are expressed as the mean ± SD. Statistical analysis was performed via ANOVA with Bonferroni correction for the three independent experiments. (E) Representative TEM photographs among the four groups 3 days after experimental RD (n = 6). Scale bars: 2 µm. (F) Quantification of apoptotic cells counts 3 days after RD in all four groups (n = 6). Data are expressed as the mean ± SD. Statistical analysis was performed via ANOVA with Bonferroni correction for the three independent experiments. ^**P < 0.01. NS, not significant; P/N, pyroptotic/necrotic; A, apoptotic.