Fig 3. Mef2a gene targeting promotes RGC survival after optic nerve crush.
(A-D) Representative images of RBPMS-positive RGCs from Mef2af/f;Mef2df/f mice injected with either AAV2-cre-GFP or AAV2-GFP control (scale bar in A, B, 1 mm; in C, D, 100 μm). (E-I) Mice of the indicated genotypes injected with either AAV2-cre-GFP or AAV-GFP control were subjected to optic nerve crush. RBPMS expressing cells were quantified two weeks later. RGC counts are normalized by the number of RGCs in the contralateral non-crushed eye. Each datapoint represents an individual mouse. Data were analyzed by Student’s t-test. Mef2a knock-out increased RGC survival 1.5-fold compared with control eyes; Mef2a/d double knock-out and Mef2a/c/d triple knock-out increased RGC survival ~2-fold compared with control eyes. Mef2d knock-out and hemizygous Mef2a/d deletion had no significant (ns) effect on RGC survival.