Figure 1. Cell division cycle 42 homolog (S.cerevisiae; CDC42) localizes to the perinuclear region of photoreceptors during retinal degeneration. A: CDC42 was immunofluorescently labeled in retinal sections of dark control mice and in mice at 14 h and 24 h after light exposure. The first panel shows the control of a light exposed retina (at 14 h after exposure) stained with the secondary antibody alone. Shown are representative stainings of n=3 mice. B: The outer nuclear layer (ONL) of CDC42 stained retinal sections of mice at 14 h after light exposure, were analyzed by confocal microscopy. The boxed area is shown at higher magnification in the right panel. C: Retinal sections of retinal degeneration (rd)1, rd10, autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (VPP) and wild-type age matched controls at indicated post-natal days were immunofluorescently stained for CDC42. D: Relative gene expression of Cdc42 was analyzed in retinas of dark controls (DC) and in retinas at 14 h and 24 h after light exposure. Shown are mean values±SD of 3 independent mice. E: Retinal layers were isolated by laser capture microdissection and examined for Cdc42 expression. Gnat1 (ONL), Chx10 (inner nuclear layer; INL), Opn4 (ganglion cell layer; GCL) served as controls to assess purity of isolated layers and Actb was amplified as a loading control. Blue: nuclei (4’,6 diamidino-2-phenylindole [DAPI] staining). Red: CDC42. Scale bars 50 μm. RPE: retinal pigment epithelium, IPL: inner plexiform layer, IS: photoreceptor inner segment, PND: post-natal day.