Fig. 6

A BDNF mimetic treatment rescues visual function in dye mutants. (a,b) Gross morphology of control and 7,8-dihydroxyflavone hydrate (7,8-DHF) treated dye larvae, treatment does not rescue gross morphological defects. (c–h) Light micrographs of control, 7,8-DHF treated and 7,8-DHF + ANA-12 co-treated dye retinal sections. The number of pyknotic nuclei present in the ciliary marginal zone is significantly reduced following treatment with 7,8-DHF (rectangles f,g). This reduction in pyknotic nuclei is partially reversed by 7,8-DHF + ANA-12 co-treatment (h). (i,j) bar plots quantifying the average number of pyknotic nuclei present in multiple sections and replicate larvae following treatment (i) (N = 5, n = 3) and changes in area of the ciliary marginal zone in the central retina (n = 3) (j). (k) 7,8-DHF treated dye mutants have a significantly improved OKR, the degree of rescue is dose-dependent. (i) Likewise, treatment with 7,8-DHF rescues the VMR MAX ON and MAX OFF responses, statistically significant rescue was observed at 7.5 and 10 µM 7,8-DHF concentrations, N = 12 (number of larvae per replicate), n = 3 (number of replicates) for all groups. Visual function rescue was abrogated by ANA-12 co-treatment. Visual behaviour data was analysed by a Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance and post-hoc Dunn’s multiple comparison test, comparing each group to 7,8-DHF treated dye mutants, error bars represent average SEM. Comparison of pyknotic nuclei counts and comparison of CMZ area was performed using an ordinary one-way ANOVA, ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05.