Figure 4. Reversed-phased high performance liquid chromatography of whole eye extracts during postnatal development of Mitf^vit and C57BL/6 control mice

Reversed-phase HPLC profile of whole eye extracts from Mitf^vit and C57BL/6 control mice at 10, 4, and 2 weeks of age, respectively (n = 8 eyes per age group). In eyes of Mitf^vit mice we detected three peaks with retention times matching authentic 13-cis, 9-cis, and all-trans RA respectively; but in eyes of controls only two peaks with retention times matching 13-cis and all-trans RA standards were observed. Peak identification was based on retention time in combination with spectral data provided by on-line photodiode array detection. To account for day-to-day variation due to any changes in mobile phase and/or column conditioning, authentic RA standards were run with each data set. The arrows indicate the relative retention times of 13-cis, 9-cis, and all-trans RA standards.

A. Mitf^vit at 10 weeks of age

B. C57BL/6 control at 10 weeks of age

C. Mitf^vit at 4 weeks of age

D. C57BL/6 control at 4 weeks of age

E. Mitf^vit at 2 weeks of age

F. C57BL/6 control at 2 weeks of age