Fig. 3

Retinal function declines in XBP1 fl/fl; Chx10-Cre mice after eight months of age. a Graph of the a-wave and b-wave responses of a transient, light-adapted ERG in XBP1 fl/fl (WT) mice at ages 6–8 months (n = 3) or 12–14 months (n = 9) and XBP1 fl/fl; Chx10-Cre (cKO) mice at ages 6–8 months (n = 3) or 12–14 months (n = 11). There is a significantly reduced b-wave in XBP1 cKO compared to WT mice at age 12–14 months. In addition, there is a significant age-related decline in the b-wave amplitude in XBP1 cKO but not WT mice (*, p < 0.001, two-way ANOVA). There is no significant difference in the amplitudes of the a-waves. b Traces from light-adapted transient ERG that closely resemble the average responses for WT (left) and XBP1 cKO mice at age 12–14 months. c ERG traces closely resembling the average responses for WT and XBP1 cKO for 4 of the 10 stimulus intensities of a 10-step, dark adapted ERG from mice age 12–14 months. Note the similar shape and onset times, but distinct amplitudes in the b-wave and a-wave between genotypes. d Graph of the 10-step dark adapted ERG responses in 6–8 month-old (n = 3 per group) or 12–14 month-old (n = 8 per group) WT and XBP1 cKO mice. At age 6–8 months there is no significant difference in the a-wave or b-wave responses between WT and XBP1 cKO mice. However, at age 12–14 months, there is a significantly diminished a-wave (&, p < 0.01, two-way ANOVA) and b-wave (#, p < 0.02, two-way ANOVA) in the XBP1 cKO compared to the WT. Furthermore, there is a significant age-related decline in the b-wave amplitude for the five highest light intensities (p < 0.03, two-way ANOVA) and in the a-wave amplitude for the three highest light intensities (p < 0.01, two-way ANOVA) in XBP1 cKO but not in WT mice