Figure 1

Patchy loss of Müller cells was accompanied by reactive activation of surviving Müller cells after selective Müller cell ablation. (A-D) Double-label immunostaining for GS (red, right column) and GFAP (green, middle column) in control (Ctl, A) and transgenic (TG, B-D) mice 1 day (1d), 7d and 3 months (3 m) after tamoxifen induction. Reactive activation of surviving Müller cells was observed as early as 1d (B) and persisted for at least 3 m (D) after Müller cell ablation in TG mice. Small arrows in (C and D) point to areas of Müller cell loss, and large arrows point to regions of broken outer limiting membrane (OLM). The arrowhead in (C) points to an area with Müller cell loss but the OLM at the corresponding region seemed intact. GCL = ganglion cell layer, INL = inner nuclear layer, OPL = outer plexiform layer, ONL = outer nuclear layer. (E-G) Western blots showed significant reduction of GS and upregulation of GFAP expression 7d after Müller cell ablation. N = 8 in each group. Scale bars: A-D, 50 μm.