Fig. 4Figure 4
Retinal I/R activates and increases glial cell populations in the SC. Representative images demonstrate differences observed in astrocytes ( a ), ( b ) and microglia ( c ), ( d ) between uninjured ipsilateral and I/R-receiving contralateral hemispheres of the SC. ( e ) Quantification of microglial density was observed to be significantly different between hemispheres on days 7 and 14 ( p < 0.01) following I/R. No differences were detected between hemispheres by 21 days post injury. However, a statistically significant difference was determined in the uninjured ipsilateral hemisphere when days 21 ( p < 0.01) and 28 ( p < 0.001) were compared to earlier time points. ( f ) Density of GFAP + astrocytes was quantified; however, no significant differences could be determined between SC hemispheres at any time point following retinal I/R. However, statistical differences ( p < 0.05) were observed in both ipsilateral and contralateral hemispheres when day 28 was compared against astrocyte