Spermidine Oxidation-Mediated Degeneration of Retinal Pigment Epithelium in Rats

Figure 5

Spermidine-induced ultrastructural changes in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) of the rat retina. Ultrathin 80–nm sections were prepared from samples fixed 6 hours after the injection of (a, b) DPBS or 4 days after the intravitreal administration of (c, d) spermidine (20 nmol/eye). Scale bars indicate 2 μm. Red arrows in (c) indicate plasma membrane disruption in RPE cells. Red arrows in (d) indicate chromatin condensation in photoreceptor cells.

(a) Control (RPE), 6 hr

(b) Control (ONL), 6 hr

(c) Spermidine (20 nmol/eye) (RPE), day 4

(d) Spermidine (20 nmol/eye) (ONL), day 4