Figure 4
From: The Bcl-2 family member BIM has multiple glaucoma-relevant functions in DBA/2J mice
Bim deficiency increases RGC survival after CONC.
(A,B) To determine if Bim deficiency increases RGC survival after CONC, counts of Nissl stained ganglion cell layer neurons were performed. Note, only RGCs die after CONC and approximately half of RGC layer neurons are amacrine cells32, so a loss of 50% of RGC layer neurons equals complete RGC loss. All genotypes had a significant cell loss compared to sham retinas at 14 days after CONC (P<0.001). Consistent with the decrease in cCASP3+ cell counts, there was a significantly increase in the number of RGC layer neurons at 14 days after injury in Bim-/- mice (*, P<0.001, compared to Bim+/+ mice). However, by 35 days after injury, Bim deficiency did not provide protection. Note, since Bim+/+ and Bim+/- mice had similar loss of RGC layer neurons at 14 days, Bim+/- retinas were not assessed at 35 days. (C) RGC counts, using the RGC marker TUJ126, confirmed the increased survival of RGCs 14 days after axonal injury (*, P<0.001). N≥5 for all genotypes and ages except n = 3 for Bim+/-; scale bar, 100 μm.
