Fig. 7: IF exerts retinoprotective effects in older mice.

A Dual labeling of phalloidin and IBA1 showing the RPE integrity and microglial distribution in the RPE of 16-month-old mice. Scale bar, 1 mm (top row) or 100 μm (bottom three rows). B, C Quantification of hexagonal cells and IBA1 signal intensity in the RPE of 16-month-old mice. n = 5 mice/group. D, E Cone photoreceptors were identified by PNA labeling, with quantification of PNA mean fluorescence intensity across retinal sections. n = 5 mice/group. Scale bar, 50 μm. F, G Apoptotic cells were identified by TUNEL labeling and quantification of TUNEL fluorescence intensity across retinal sections. n = 4 mice/group. The left and right hemiretinas of the four mice were quantified independently in the figure. Scale bar, 50 μm. H, I Muller glial cell activation detected by GFAP immunostaining and quantification of GFAP mean fluorescence intensity in retinal sections. Scale bar, 50 μm. n = 5 mice/group. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD, P values were calculated using unpaired two-tailed t-test in B, C, E, G, I. ****P < 0.0001, ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05.