PLT depletion reduces apoptosis in a retinal model with low levels of inflammation, whereas inhibition of GPIIb-IIIa does not affect tissue apoptosis. (A-B) Mice were treated with control serum (ctrl) or PLT-depleting serum (PLT depletion). Subsequently, neuronal apoptosis was induced by intravitreal injection of NMDA. In this model of tissue apoptosis, levels of tissue inflammation are negligible. In retinal sections, TUNEL staining was performed and sections were analyzed in a blinded fashion using immunofluorescence microscopy. Eight non-consecutive sections were analyzed per animal. (A) Shows representative images. (B) Data are mean ± SEM and show the number of TUNEL-positive cells per area (n = 8). *P < .05 vs control treated animals. Scale bar, 100 µm. (C) Stroke was induced in C57BL/6 mice by tMCAO for 60 minutes. Animals were treated with a blocking anti–GPIIb-IIIa F(ab) 1 hour prior to stroke induction. Data are mean ± SEM and show the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells of total cell number per section (n = 5, 3 non-consecutive sections per animal were counted in a blinded fashion). No significant difference was observed between groups. INL, inner nuclear layer; ONL, outer nuclear layer; RGC, retinal ganglion cell.