Histopathological evidence for accelerated NaIO₃-induced degeneration in αA-crystallin knockout mice.

<p>Retinas from αA-crystallin knockout mice revealed more severe degeneration from NaIO₃ injection as compared to wild-type retinas. The loss of nuclei was more prominent in αA-crystallin knockout retina vs. that of wild type. The decrease in the number of nuclei per unit area was statistically significant with NaIO₃ injection only in the outer nuclear layer of the crystallin knockout mice. No significant differences of nuclei numbers were found between the NaIO₃-injected and PBS-injected in wild-type mice. The RPE layers were discontinuous and damaged in αA-crystallin knockout mice with NaIO₃ injection, while they were continuous in wild-type mice. CRYAA = αA-crystallin; INL = inner nuclear layer; ONL = outer nuclear layer; RPE = retinal pigmental epithelium; **P<0.01.