Figure 2.

Transferrin protects RGCs in NMDA- or CoCl₂-treated retinal explants. (A) Representative images of retinal whole-mounts prepared for Brn3a immunostaining following 24 h incubation with 100 µM NMDA or TF (50 mg/mL) combined with NMDA and further cultured for 72 h (96 h total) in presence or not of TF. Untreated explant served as control. (B) Brn3a-positive cells were counted showing that TF significantly protects RGCs against NMDA-induced cell death. (C) LDH released by explants during 3 h to 24 h of culture was significantly increased in presence of 100 µM NMDA and absent in additive presence of TF. (D) Representative images of retinal whole-mounts prepared for Brn3a immunostaining following 24 h incubation with 100 µM CoCl₂ or TF (50 mg/mL) combined with CoCl₂ and further cultured for 72 h (96 h total) in presence or not of TF. Untreated explant served as control. (E) Brn3a-positive cells were counted showing that TF significantly protects RGCs against CoCl₂-induced cell death. (F) LDH released by explants during 3 h to 24 h of culturing was significantly increased in presence of 100 µM CoCl₂ and absent in additive presence of TF. Data represent means ± SEM, n = 6–10 explants per condition. Statistical analysis was performed with Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn’s tests for multiple comparisons. ns: not significant; # p < 0.05; ## p < 0.01; #### p < 0.0001 compared to control. ns, not significant; * p < 0.05 ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; compared to stress condition. Scale bar: 100 µm.