Fig. 3

P2X7R-mediated changes of microglia in COH retinas. a Immunofluorescence staining showing changes in morphology and migration of the Iba1-labeled microglia, and in TSPO expression in retinal vertical slices taken from sham-operated P2X7R^−/− mouse (Control, Ctr), and P2X7R^−/− mice obtained at different post-operational times (G4d, G1w, G3w, and G5w). Scale bar: 10 μm for all images. b Representative western blotting results showing the changes in protein levels of P2X7R, P2X4R, TSPO, and GFAP in Ctr and COH retinas obtained from WT and P2X7R^−/− mice at different post-operational times. c–f Bar charts comparing the average relative densities of immunoreactive bands of P2X7R (c), TSPO (d), GFAP (e) and P2X4R (f) expression obtained at corresponding post-operational times in COH retinas of wild type and P2X7R^−/− mice. All the data are normalized to the corresponding controls. n = 6 for each group. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 vs. Ctr using ordinary one-way (c) and two-way (d, e) ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test; ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01, and ^###P < 0.001 vs. corresponding WT mice at same time point using paired two-tailed Student’s t test (d, f). GCL ganglion cell layer, IPL inner plexiform layer, INL inner nuclear layer, OPL outer plexiform layer, ONL outer nuclear layer