Figure 1.

Improved long-term culture of mouse ESC-derived photoreceptors

(A) Histogram showing the percentage of classified sections (non-retinal, organized, and disorganized PRs; see Figure S1 and supplemental experimental procedures for criteria) when cultured under various conditions (±SEM; ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001, ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001; n ≥ 12 sections, N ≥ 3 experiments).

(B) Line graph showing the percentage of rod (Crx.GFP⁺CD73⁺) PRs present over time in RMM or ALT media (±SD; ∗∗∗p < 0.001; n = 24 pooled EBs, N ≥ 3 experiments).

(C–F) Representative images of mESC-derived retinal regions (Nrl.GFP line, green rod PRs) at day 42, maintained in either RMM or ALT media, with +BSA or +DHA and stained for rhodopsin (gray) and peripherin2 (red).

(G–N) TEM micrographs showing retinal regions maintained in different culture conditions. Inset regions shown at higher magnification (H, J, L, and N). Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bars, 1μm (H, J, L, and N), 2μm (G, I, K, and M), and 10μm (C–F).

IS, inner segment region; OLM, outer limiting membrane; OS, outer segment region; PRs, photoreceptors.