Research Paper Volume 10, Issue 8 pp 2136—2147

Figure 4. Effect of p62DNA on the GFAP expression and the state of RPE cells. (A) Representative GFAP immunostaining in retina of 3- and 13.5-month-old OXYS rats, treated by PBS (left) or p62DNA (right). GFAP staining was mainly confined to astrocytes and the ganglion cell layer at the inner limiting membrane in OXYS rats at the age of 3 months. In PBS-treated 13.5-month-old OXYS rats, the increased GFAP expression was observed along the Müller glial cell processes extending towards the outer limiting membrane, representing massive gliosis. p62DNA treatment prevented GFAP accumulation in 13.5-month-old OXYS rats. Scale bar: 50 μm. ONL: outer nuclear layer; INL: inner nuclear layer; GCL: ganglion cells layer. (B) Representative images of phalloidin-stained RPE flat-mounts of 3- and 13.5-month-old OXYS rats, treated by PBS (left) or p62DNA (right). p62DNA treatment slowed down development of the destructive alterations of RPE cells (the loss of regular hexagonal shape, the hypertrophy, the multinucleation) in OXYS rats. Scale bar: 50 μm.