Figure 2. Enucleating eyes using the ONP method reduces ICN density compared to ONC where eyes are removed by cutting them out with curved scissors.

A. Representative en face images of flat mounted mouse corneas stained to visualize the ICNs are shown for each variable assessed. The asterisk indicates where an incision was made to flatten the cornea. Bar = 500 μm. B. Quantification shows significantly reduced axon density in male mice at the center, periphery and overall. While female mice also show reduced overall axon density, the reduction is less than that seen in the male mice and is more pronounced at the corneal periphery compared to the center.