Since a less severe retinal degeneration was observed in aged infected caspase-12−/− mice compared to age-matched infected wild-type controls, we hypothesized that caspase-12 might play a role in retinal degeneration resulting from MCMV ocular latency via similar pathways to those involved in retinal bystander cell death during MCMV retinitis. This evidence concerns the gene CASP12 and retinal degeneration.