Fig. 3: mCherry-BCLXL is robustly expressed in the RGC axons in the optic nerve.
From: BCLXL gene therapy moderates neuropathology in the DBA/2J mouse model of inherited glaucoma
A A brightfield image of the dorsal view of the optic nerves from a mouse transduced bilaterally with AAV2-Pgk-mCherry-BCLXL and later injected unilaterally (left eye only) with CTB-Alexa488. B The same field imaged for mCherry-BCLXL fluorescence. The fusion protein can be seen in the optic nerve distal to the optic chiasm (OC) and approaching the superior colliculus (SC). C The same field imaged for CTB-Alexa488 fluorescence. Arrows denote fluorescence in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). D A merged image of B, C showing bilateral mCherry-BCLXL expression and unilateral CTB-488. Scale bar = 1 mm. E–G Histologic sections of the optic nerve from a transduced eye of a transgenic mouse expressing Thy1-mitoCFP to label RGC mitochondria. Note that not all RGCs express Thy1-mitoCFP in this line. The mCherry-BCLXL transgene is present throughout individual axons but concentrated in regions that correspond to axonal mitochondria (arrows). Scale bar = 5 µm.
