Figure 4

Biliverdin contributes to retinal development in zebrafish larvae. (A, B) Biliverdin and sulconazole at the tested concentrations (0.5 μM each) did not affect the overall development of zebrafish larvae. (A) Whole mount images of 3 dpf zebrafish larvae. (B) Quantification of the eye and body size ratios. (C) Fluorescence microscopic images of 3 dpf zebrafish larvae (from left to right) without any treatment, with 0.5 μM biliverdin, with 0.5 μM sulconazole nitrate, and with both biliverdin and sulconazole nitrate (top: rod photoreceptor cells, bottom: overlay of rod photoreceptor cells and DAPI-stained cells). (D) Quantification of rod photoreceptor cells in zebrafish larvae (3 dpf) grown in different conditions (**p = 0.00369). (E) Fluorescence microscopic images of zebrafish larvae (top) immunolabeled with the 4C12 antibody (which detect immature rod photoreceptors) and (bottom) red-green cones immunolabeled with the Zpr-1 antibody. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI. (F) Quantification of immature rods and red-green cones (***p < 10⁻⁵). ONL, outer nuclear layer; INL, inner nuclear layer; GCL, ganglion cell layer. Scale bars, 0.1 mm in A; 0.05 mm in C, E.