ITGAM and retinal degeneration: In the current study, we established a chronic model of retinal degeneration induced by repeated application of low doses of NaIO3 which caused a decreased expression of the gene for rhodopsin, but increased expression of the genes for Iba-1, IL-1β and galectin-3 and an increased number of CD45+CD11b+ (macrophages/microglia markers) and CX3CR1+P2RY12+ (the specific combination of microglia markers) cells in the neuroretina compared to the healthy eye.