Fig. 5

Effects of rapamycin administration on retinal degeneration. (a) Apoptosis-positive cells in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) were analyzed continuously by TUNEL staining at the ages of 9 to 12 days, after intravitreal administration of rapamycin at the age of 8 days. Wild-type rat retinas are shown in panels a- i, iv, vii, and x. Compared to the vehicle group the number of apoptosis-positive cells in the rapamycin group is small in P347L rats; 45% versus 75% (ii versus iii; v versus vi; viii versus ix; xi versus xii). Scale bar: 30 μm; vertical bar: ONL. (b) Graphical representation of the number of TUNEL positive cells per 45 columns of photoreceptor cells. The number of apoptosis-positive cells was significantly reduced at the ages of 9 to 12 days. Statistical analysis was performed by two-way ANOVA with Sidak’s multiple-comparison test: **p < 0.01; *p < 0.05