Fig. 6

Systemic immunosuppression in allotransplanted animals further impairs retinal functionality and decreases Müller cell activation and microglial activation. A Electroretinogram waves obtained from the scotopic and photopic response before (pre-, black) and at 5 and 21 days in allotransplanted retinas from immunosuppressed animals (non-immunosuppressed waves are shown in Fig. 2) and below the quantification graphs (mean wave amplitude ± SD). *Significant compared to baseline values (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, nonparametric multiple comparisons Kruskal–Wallis' test and Dunn’s post hoc analysis). ^ƟSignificant comparing non-immunosuppressed with immunosuppressed animals (^Ɵp < 0.05, nonparametric t test, Mann–Whitney's). B Top, OCT sections spanning the optic nerve taken before (pre-) and at 5 and 21 days in allotransplanted retinas from non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed animals. Bottom, measurement of OCT images: stacked column graphs showing the total, outer and inner retinal thickness measured at 1-mm from the optic nerve (mean ± SD) and column graph showing the central retinal volume. C DAPI-stained cross sections from immunosuppressed retinas analysed at 5 and 21 days showing alterations in the retinal architecture. D Retinal cross sections showing Müller cells (vimentin, purple) in intact and allotransplanted retinas from non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed animals 5 and 21 days after the transplant and quantification of fluorescence intensity relative to intact retinas. *Significant comparing with intact, ^ƟSignificant comparing non-immunosuppressed with immunosuppressed (^Ɵp < 0.05, nonparametric t test, Mann–Whitney's). E GFP⁺ BM-MSCs in the vitreous of allotransplanted retinas with immunosuppression and column graphs showing the mean number per section and animal ± SD of transplanted cells (left) or microglial cells (right) quantified in the vitreous of intact animals and at 5 and 21 days in allotransplanted retinas with or without immunosuppression (*p < 0.05 comparing 21 and 5 days, nonparametric Mann–Whitney t test). F Retinal magnifications showing Iba1 (red) and CD45 (purple) expression in the immunosuppressed + allotransplants group. n = 4 retinas/group/timepoint, 3 sections/retina