A single application of CeNPs at P15 reduced the number of apoptotic death of photoreceptor cells for at least 21 days.

<p>(A-B) Representative photomicrographs of retinal sections from 3 dpi group with examples of TUNEL+ profiles (green). Nuclei in the ONL and INL are labeled blue. Rod outer segments are labeled red with Rhodopsin, 1D4, antibody. CeNPs-treated animals have significantly fewer TUNEL+ profiles in the ONL compared to saline-treated ones. (C) Quantification of TUNEL+ profiles in the ONL from 3, 7, 14, and 21 dpi groups. The reductions from 3 and 7 dpi groups of CeNPs injected animals were highly significant. Statistical summaries from these box plots are detailed in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0121977#pone.0121977.t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a>. Abbreviations: dpi = days post injection, S = Saline, C = CeNPs, *p<0.05.