Table S1: Number of mice used for each experiment RBP4 +/+ RBP4 −/− RBP4 +/+ RBP4 −/− RBP4 +/+ RBP4 +/− RBP4 −/− RBP4 +/+ RBP4 −/− RBP4 +/+ RBP4 −/− Fig. 2 RT-PCR for tissue specificity - - - - 2 2 2 - - - - Fig. 2 Liver Rbp4 mRNA by northern blot - - - - 2 - 2 - - - - Fig. 2 Serum Rbp4 by western blot - - - - 2 - 2 - - - - Fig. 10 Serum retinol - - 4 4 - - - - - 3 4 Fig. 10 Liver retinol - - 4 4 - - - - - 3 4 Fig. 11 Liver Rbp4 mRNA by qRT-PCR 4 - - - 4 - - 4 - - - Fig. 11 Serum Rbp4 by western blot 4 - - - 4 - - 4 - - - RBP4 +/+ RBP4 −/− RBP4 +/+ RBP4 −/− RBP4 +/+ RBP4 −/−- RBP4 +/+ RBP4 −/−- Fig. 3 & 4 Electroretinogram 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 Fig. 5 Retinal histology - - - - - - 6 7 Fig. 6 Measurement of retinal properties - - - - - - 6 6* Fig. 7 Transmission electron microscopy - - - - - - 2 2 Fig. 8 Funduscopic examination 6 7 6 7 6 7 6 7 Fig. 9 Genotyping of the Crb1 locus - - - - - - 6 7 Fig. No. Fig. No. 30 weeks 12 weeks 40 weeks * One of the Rbp4 −/− mice exhibiting serious collapse of the structure of the peripheral retina ( shown in Fig. 5I) was excluded from the analysis. 7 weeks 14 weeks 24 weeks 8 weeks 6 weeks 24 weeks