Journal article

Accumulation of murine subretinal macrophages: Effects of age, pigmentation and CX 3CR1

HR Chinnery, S McLenachan, T Humphries, JM Kezic, X Chen, MJ Ruitenberg, PG McMenamin

Neurobiology of Aging | Published : 2012

Abstract

Macrophages or activated microglia in the subretinal space are considered a hallmark of some retinal pathologies. We investigated the effects of age, pigmentation and CX 3CR1 deficiency on the accumulation of macrophages/activated microglia in the outer retina of young and old Cx 3cr1 gfp/gfp (CX 3CR1-deficient) or Cx 3cr1 gfp/+ mice on either a pigmented (C57BL/6) or albino (BALB/c) background. Quantitative analysis of immunostained retinal-choroidal whole mounts revealed an increase in subretinal macrophage (SRMΦ) numbers in young Cx 3cr1 gfp/gfp mice compared with Cx 3cr1 gfp/+ mice, however the increase was more marked in albino Cx 3cr1 gfp/gfp mice. In aged mice, large numbers of SRMΦ/a..

View full abstract

University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Appalachian Regional Commission


Funding Acknowledgements

We thank Mary Lee (Anatomy & Human Biology, University of Western Australia) for assistance with resin histology. The authors acknowledge the facilities, scientific and technical assistance of Monash Micro Imaging (Monash University), and Australian Microscopy & Microanalysis Research Facility at the Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation & Analysis, The University of Western Australia, a facility funded by the University, State and Commonwealth Governments, and Funding from Elvina King Trust Fund, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Western Australia, and Lions Eye Institute in part supported this research. M.J.R. was supported by an ARC Discovery Grant and Postdoctoral Fellowship (DP0774113).