Fig. 7
Transmission electron microscopic images illustrating the ultrastructural anatomy of the inner retinal tissue of a 7-month-old Glb1 knockout (Glb1−/−) mouse. Müller cells (MCs) appear morphologically intact, with no evidence of storage material accumulation, while neurons show characteristic membranous inclusions of GM1 ganglioside. (A) The inner limiting membrane (ILM; outlined in purple) is formed by the “endfeet” of MCs. Müller cell endfeet (MCef) show mitochondrial (Mi) swelling (arrow). Retinal ganglion cells (RGC) and macrophages/microglia (M) show large phagolysosomes (PLs; outlined in green) with membranous inclusions (asterisk); bar: 1000 nm. (B) Amacrine cells (ACs) and bipolar cells (BCs) in the inner nuclear layer are tightly enveloped by the cell body of MCs (purple overlay ) and exhibit cytoplasmic membranous inclusions of GM1 gangliosides; bar: 2500 nm; insert: higher magnification in (C). (C) Higher magnification of a large phagolysosome with accumulation of electron dense, laminar, membranous inclusions of storage material resembling myelin figures or “zebra bodies” (white arrows); bar: 500 nm.
