Fig. 8

Müller cell reactivity was detected following signs of optic neuritis. a A decrease in AQP4 signal (arrows) in the retinal nerve fibre layer was observed 15 and 28 days post immunisation (dpi) in the retina of EAE mice. b Glutamine synthetase, expressed in Müller cells, decreased in the Müller cell branched processes at 15 and 20 dpi but appeared to recover by 28 dpi in EAE mice. Arrows in the healthy control retina point to intact Müller cell processes, while in EAE, the arrows indicate the recovered processes that appear disorganized. c mRNA expression of Aqp4 decreased only at 15 dpi, while d Rlbp1 expression decreased significantly at 15 and 20 dpi in EAE mice retinas compared to healthy controls. p-values for comparison between EAE and control mice (* p < 0.05). EAE: experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, AQP4: aquaporin-4, RLBP1: retinaldehyde-binding protein 1, IRL: inner retinal layer, INL: inner nuclear layer, ONL: outer nuclear layer