Figure 6. GLE increased gene expression of Otx2 and Chx10 (Vsx2) in developing retinas. In the control and GLE retinas, (A) Otx2 and (B) Chx10 gene expression significantly increased from E16.5 to PN10. A: For Otx2, the pattern of expression was similar in the control and GLE retinas, peaking at PN6, when most late-born retinal neurons were differentiated [29]. In the GLE retinas, Otx2 expression significantly increased at PN2 and PN6 relative to the age-matched controls. B: For Chx10, the pattern of gene expression in the control and GLE retinas differed. In the GLE retinas, Chx10 expression significantly increased at PN2 and PN6 relative to the age-matched controls. The mean ± SEM values represent the triplicate samples from four to five animals per treatment group per age. The values with an asterisk indicate p < 0.05 compared to the control retinas. GLE = Gestational lead exposure; E = embryonic; PN= postnatal; SEM = standard error of the mean.