Rod-microglia had different stages of CD68 staining.

<p>Iba-1+ and CD68+ cells. Retinal whole-mounts. With respect both to morphological features and to CD68 immunostaining patterns, three stages of rod-like microglia were detected: (A1-A3) rod-like microglia with elongated cell bodies and processes prominently projected from the poles and an intense punctate CD68 staining (arrowhead); (B1-B3) cells with shorter and thicker processes, and coarse patches of CD68 immunoreaction (arrow); (C1-C3) fusiform cell bodies with short and thick bipolar processes and intense CD68 positive cytoplasm (asterisk). In all cases, CD68 immunoreaction was found both in the cytoplasm and processes.