Figure 2

MIF genetic depletion reduces apoptosis but not loss of ONL thickness in RD. MIFKO mice with BALB/c and C57BL/6 backgrounds were used with appropriate background controls (n = 5/group). Representative photographs shows TUNEL-positive cells in day 14 detached retina from BALB/c background controls (a) and MIFKO mice (b). Scale bar denotes 50 microns. TUNEL-positive cells were significantly reduced in the ONL of day 14 BALB/c and C57BL/6 MIFKO mice (c, **p = 0.0008 and *p = 0.0466, respectively). However, the loss of the ONL thickness in these day 14 RDs was not significantly reduced in either BALB/c or C57BL/6 MIFKO mice compared with background controls (d, p = 0.4169 and p = 0.2378, respectively). No significant changes were observed in cleaved caspase-3 positive cells (e, p = 0.5295). Cleaved PARP-positive cells were significantly reduced in day 14 MIFKO mice (f, *p = 0.0224). Confocal micrographs shows cleaved PARP positive cells in day 14 detached retina from C57BL/6 background controls (g) and MIFKO mice (h). Arrows denote positive cells. Scale bar denotes 25 microns.