Table 1. Quantitative analysis of Thy1 expressing cells in hypertensive eyes

Rat eyes used for Thy1 in situ hybridization experiments were grouped into 3 categories based on their individual Injury Grade (IG). Eyes exhibiting mild to moderate damage (1 < IG < 3) had normal numbers of cells still present in the retina and reduced Thy1 expression overall (although not statistically significant). The expression pattern of Thy1 in these eyes was also qualitatively different in 3/5 eyes in this group (Figure 7). Eyes with extensive optic nerve damage exhibited nearly complete loss of Thy1 expression, which was accompanied by nearly 50% loss of cells in the ganglion cell layer.

*Mann Whitney Test. All values are comparisons between experimental eyes and eyes with no optic nerve injury (IG = 1).

                                                Percent Thy1
  Injury           Cell Number/400 mm          Positive Cells
  Grade       n       (mean ± SD)        p*     (mean ± SD)      p*
----------   ---   ------------------   ----   --------------   ----

IG = 1        4        48.5 ± 6.1         -     68.1 ± 13.1      -


1 < IG < 3    5        47.5 ± 4.0       0.10    57.5 ± 13.1     0.10


IG > 4        3        25.5 ± 6.9       0.05     3.9 ±  3.1     0.05