Fig. 3: Improved retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival in IR-injured retinas in the absence of 181-Rik.

A At 15 days (D15) post-IR injury, a qRT-PCR assay of RNA expression of the indicated RGC marker genes in WT and KO retinas. Data were presented as mean ± SD (n = 5 or 6). B Schematic diagram indicating that the retinal wholemount was divided into central, intermediate, and peripheral regions for more accurate quantification. C–N, C′–N′ Immunostaining of WT and KO retinal wholemounts from untreated mice (NT) and mice at 3, 7, or 15 days post-IR injury (IR-D3, 7, or 15), with an anti-Rbpms antibody. Scale bar: 100 μm. O–R Quantification of Rbpms⁺ RGCs in the three regions of NT, IR-D3, IR-D7, and IR-D15 retinas. Data were presented as mean ± SD (n = 4–6).