Figure 1
The time-dependent morphological degeneration in the MNU administrated retinas.
(A) Representative pictures of the central, mid-peripheral and peripheral retinas along the vertically superior–inferior axis. (B) Averaged layer thicknesses at 250 μm intervals were calculated and plotted as morphometric profiles across the vertical meridian. (C) Initially at P1, the decrease of the ONL/INL ratio was found in the central region of the MNU administrated retinas, while the ONL/INL ratio of the peripheral and mid- peripheral regions remained unaffected. The decrease of ONL/INL ratio progressed with time and generalized from the central region to the peripheral and mid- peripheral areas at P3. Subsequently at P5, the ONL of the central region almost disappeared and the ONL/INL ratio of the mid-peripheral region also remarkably decreased, while the ONL/INL ratio in the peripheral region was retained with relatively ONL larger thickness. By P7, the ONL in the mid-peripheral region also disappeared; the ONL in the peripheral region was left with a minimum of nuclear layers. (D) The discrepancy of the degenerated kinetics existed between the superior and inferior hemispheres. The ONL/INL ratio of the inferior hemisphere was statistically smaller than the superior hemisphere respectively at P3, P5 and P7 (ANOVA analysis followed by post-hoc test, n = 10; Fig. C: *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 for differences compared with controls; #P < 0.05, ##P < 0.01 for differences compared with previous time point group; Fig. D: *P < 0.05, for differences between the superior and inferior hemispheres).
