Because of this, the Pdgfra-Cre female mice were screened alongside the Il6ra-floxed male mice (B6;SJL-Il6ratm1.1Drew/J) for genetic mutations known to cause retinal degeneration—Crb1 (rd8), Pde6b (rd1), and Gpr179 (nob5)45,50–54. Here, IL6R is linked to retinal degeneration.