Retinal microglia were selectively and sequentially labelled in different layers of the retina of postnatal rats
following a single intravenous injection of the fluorescent dye, rhodamine isothiocyanate (RhIc). The
fluorescent cells were doubly immunostained with OX-42 and ED-1 antibodies that recognise complement
type 3 (CR3) receptors and macrophage antigen, respectively. RhIc was first detected in the retinal blood
vessels 5 min after injection. At 1 h, a variable number of microglia in the inner layers of the retina, namely,
the nerve fibre and ganglion cell layers appeared to emit weak fluorescence. Labelled microglial cells in the
inner nuclear and outer plexiform layers were not detected until 1 and 2 d had elapsed following RhIc
injection. The number of labelled retinal microglia was progressively increased with time, peaking at 4 d
after RhIc injection. The frequency of RhIc labelled cells also increased with age, with the largest number of
cells occurring in 7-d-old rats but declined thereafter. In 11 d or older rats, RhIc was confined to the retinal
blood vessels. It is concluded that when injected into the circulation, RhIc could readily gain access into the
retina tissues due to an inefficient blood-retina barrier in early postnatal stages. It became impeded with
maturation of the blood-retina barrier, which was established between 11 and 13 d of age. RhIc that
inundated the retinal tissues was thoroughly sequestered by the resident microglial cells. It is therefore
suggested that the latter could play a protective role against serum-derived substances that may be
deleterious to the developing retina.