Fig. 9

Iba-1⁺ phagocytes express CD68 and engulf cells in the GCL after IR injury. A Representative confocal microscope images of retinal sections from a Sham retina at 4 days after IR injury showing nuclei (Hoechst staining), microglia/phagocytes (Iba-1), Brn3a (a nuclear protein expressed in a major subset of RGC), and CD68 (a marker of phagocytes). Note that in the Sham retina there are few microglia/phagocytes in the GCL and essentially no detectable CD68. B Representative image of IR-injured retina section at 4 days suggesting mobilization of Iba-1⁺ microglia and close association of Iba-1⁺/CD68⁺ phagocytes with nuclei in the GCL. C Three-dimensional reconstructions using Imaris software showing a Iba-1⁺ microglia/phagocyte engulfing a Brn3a⁺ RGC in the GCL of an IR retina. The left image shows nuclei (blue), Iba-1 (green), and CD68 (magenta). The right image shows Brn3a (red), Iba-1 (green), and CD68 (magenta)