A model to study differences between primary and secondary degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in rats by partial optic nerve transection

PURPOSE: To use a rat model of optic nerve injury to differentiate primary and secondary retinal ganglion cell (RGC) injury. METHODS: Under general anesthesia, a modified diamond knife was used to transect the superior one third of the orbital optic nerve in albino Wistar rats. The number of surviving RGC was quantified by counting both the number of cells retrogradely filled with fluorescent gold dye injected into the superior colliculus 1 week before nerve injury and the number of axons in optic nerve cross sections. RGCs were counted in 56 rats, with 24 regions examined in each retinal wholemount. Rats were studied at 4 days, 8 days, 4 weeks, and 9 weeks after transection. The interocular difference in RGCs was also compared in five control rats that underwent no surgery and in five rats who underwent a unilateral sham operation. It was confirmed histologically that only the upper optic nerve had been directly injured. RESULTS: At 4 and 8 days after injury, superior RGCs showed a mean difference from their fellow eyes of -30.3% and -62.8%, respectively (P = 0.02 and 0.001, t-test, n = 8 rats/group), whereas sham-operation eyes had no significant loss (mean difference between eyes = 1.7%, P = 0.74, t-test). At 8 days, inferior RGCs were unchanged from control, fellow eyes (mean interocular difference = -4.8%, P = 0.16, t-test). Nine weeks after transection, inferior RGC had 34.5% fewer RGCs than their fellow eyes, compared with 41.2% fewer RGCs in the superior zones of the injured eyes compared with fellow eyes. Detailed, serial section studies of the topography of RGC axons in the optic nerve showed an orderly arrangement of fibers that were segregated in relation to the position of their cell bodies in the retina. CONCLUSIONS: A model of partial optic nerve transection in rats showed rapid loss of directly injured RGCs in the superior retina and delayed, but significant secondary loss of RGCs in the inferior retina, whose axons were not severed. The findings confirm similar results in monkey eyes and provide a rodent model in which pharmacologic interventions against secondary degeneration can be tested.     

Effect of glatiramer acetate on primary and secondary degeneration of retinal ganglion cells in the rat

PURPOSE: After crush injury to the optic nerve, elevated intraocular pressure, and glutamate toxicity, the immune modulator glatiramer acetate (GA, Cop-1; Copaxone; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Pitach Tikva, Israel) has been shown to reduce the delayed cell death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). This study was undertaken to confirm the protective effect of GA on secondary degeneration of RGCs in the rat, by using a spatial, rather than temporal, model. METHODS: A total of 131 Wistar rats divided into 10 groups underwent bilateral stereotactic injection of fluorescent tracer (Fluorogold; Fluorochrome, Denver, CO) into the superior colliculus to label RGCs. They received a concurrent subcutaneously injection of (1) GA mixed with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), (2) CFA alone, or (3) saline. One week later, the superior one third of the left optic nerve was transected in animals in the six partial transection groups. Optic nerves in four additional groups underwent full transection. Rats were killed and retinas harvested from both eyes 1 or 4 weeks after partial transection and 1 or 2 weeks after full transection. RGC densities were calculated from retinal wholemounts, and differences between right (control) and left (transected) eyes were compared across treatment groups. RESULTS: Among the partial transection groups, differences in the mean percentage of RGC loss in the inferior retinas were not significant at 1 or 4 weeks (ANOVA; P = 0.20, P = 0.12, respectively). After full transection, there was significantly more RGC loss in the GA group than in the CFA group when comparing whole retinas at 1 week, but not at 2 weeks (two-tailed t-test; P = 0.04, P = 0.36, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence that GA has a neuroprotective effect after optic nerve transection, either for primarily injured or secondarily involved RGC.     

The effect of experimental glaucoma and optic nerve transection on amacrine cells in the rat retina

PURPOSE: To detect alterations in amacrine cells associated with retinal ganglion cell (RGC) depletion caused by experimental optic nerve transection and glaucoma. METHODS: Intraocular pressure (IOP) was elevated unilaterally in 18 rats by translimbal trabecular laser treatment, and eyes were studied at 1 (n = 6), 2 (n = 5), and 3 (n = 7) months. Complete optic nerve transection was performed unilaterally in nine rats with survival for 1 (n = 4) and 3 (n = 5) months. Serial cryosections (five per eye) were immunohistochemically labeled with rabbit anti-gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and anti-glycine antibodies. Cells in the ganglion cell and inner nuclear layers that labeled for GABA or glycine were counted in a masked fashion under bright-field microscopy. Additional labeling with other RGC and amacrine antigens was also performed. RGC loss was quantified by axon counts. RESULTS: Amacrine cells identified by GABA and glycine labeling were not significantly affected by experimental glaucoma, with a mean decrease of 15% compared with bilaterally untreated control cells (557 +/- 186 neurons/mm [glaucoma] versus 653.9 +/- 114.4 neurons/mm [control] of retina; P = 0.15, t-test). There was no significant trend for amacrine cell counts to be lower in eyes with fewer RGCs (r = -0.39, P = 0.11). By contrast, there was highly significant loss of GABA and glycine staining 3 months after nerve transection, both in the treated and the fellow eyes (P < 0.0001, t-test). However, there was a substantial number of remaining amacrine cells in transected retinas, as indicated by labeling for calretinin and calbindin. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental glaucoma causes minimal change in amacrine cells and their expression of neurotransmitters. After nerve transection, neurotransmitter presence declines, but many amacrine cell bodies remain. Differences among optic nerve injury models, as well as effects on "untreated" fellow eyes, should be recognized.     

Retinal glutamate transporter changes in experimental glaucoma and after optic nerve transection in the rat

PURPOSE: High levels of glutamate can be toxic to retinal ganglion cells. Effective buffering of extracellular glutamate by retinal glutamate transporters is therefore important. This study was conducted to investigate whether glutamate transporter changes occur with two models of optic nerve injury in the rat. METHODS: Glaucoma was induced in one eye of 35 adult Wistar rats by translimbal diode laser treatment to the trabecular meshwork. Twenty-five more rats underwent unilateral optic nerve transection. Two glutamate transporters, GLAST (EAAT-1) and GLT-1 (EAAT-2), were studied by immunohistochemistry and quantitative Western blot analysis. Treated and control eyes were compared 3 days and 1, 4, and 6 weeks after injury. Optic nerve damage was assessed semiquantitatively in epoxy-embedded optic nerve cross sections. RESULTS: Trabecular laser treatment resulted in moderate intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in all animals. After 1 to 6 weeks of experimental glaucoma, all treated eyes had significant optic nerve damage. Glutamate transporter changes were not detected by immunohistochemistry. Western blot analysis demonstrated significantly reduced GLT-1 in glaucomatous eyes compared with control eyes at 3 days (29.3% +/- 6.7%, P = 0.01), 1 week (55.5% +/- 13.6%, P = 0.02), 4 weeks (27.2% +/- 10.1%, P = 0.05), and 6 weeks (38.1% +/- 7.9%, P = 0.01; mean reduction +/- SEM, paired t-tests, n = 5 animals per group, four duplicate Western blot analyses per eye). The magnitude of the reduction in GLT-1 correlated significantly with mean IOP in the glaucomatous eye (r(2) = 0.31, P = 0.01, linear regression). GLAST was significantly reduced (33.8% +/- 8.1%, mean +/- SEM) after 4 weeks of elevated IOP (P = 0.01, paired t-test, n = 5 animals per group). In contrast to glaucoma, optic nerve transection resulted in an increase in GLT-1 compared with the control eye (P = 0.01, paired t-test, n = 15 animals). There was no significant change in GLAST after transection. CONCLUSIONS: GLT-1 and GLAST were significantly reduced in an experimental rat glaucoma model, a response that was not found after optic nerve transection. Reductions in GLT-1 and GLAST may increase the potential for glutamate-induced injury to RGC in glaucoma.     

Optic Nerve Engraftment of Neural Stem Cells

PurposeTo evaluate the integrative potential of neural stem cells (NSCs) with the visual system and characterize effects on the survival and axonal regeneration of axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs).MethodsFor in vitro studies, primary, postnatal rat RGCs were directly cocultured with human NSCs or cultured in NSC-conditioned media before their survival and neurite outgrowth were assessed. For in vivo studies, human NSCs were transplanted into the transected rat optic nerve, and immunohistology of the retina and optic nerve was performed to evaluate RGC survival, RGC axon regeneration, and NSC integration with the injured visual system.ResultsIncreased neurite outgrowth was observed in RGCs directly cocultured with NSCs. NSC-conditioned media demonstrated a dose-dependent effect on RGC survival and neurite outgrowth in culture. NSCs grafted into the lesioned optic nerve modestly improved RGC survival following an optic nerve transection (593 ± 164 RGCs/mm² vs. 199 ± 58 RGCs/mm²; P < 0.01). Additionally, RGC axonal regeneration following an optic nerve transection was modestly enhanced by NSCs transplanted at the lesion site (61.6 ± 8.5 axons vs. 40.3 ± 9.1 axons, P < 0.05). Transplanted NSCs also differentiated into neurons, received synaptic inputs from regenerating RGC axons, and extended axons along the transected optic nerve to incorporate with the visual system.ConclusionsHuman NSCs promote the modest survival and axonal regeneration of axotomized RGCs that is partially mediated by diffusible NSC-derived factors. Additionally, NSCs integrate with the injured optic nerve and have the potential to form neuronal relays to restore retinofugal connections.     

A new calcium channel antagonist, lomerizine, alleviates secondary retinal ganglion cell death after optic nerve injury in the rat

PURPOSE: We investigated whether lomerizine, a new diphenylmethylpiperazine calcium channel blocker, exerted a neuroprotective effect on axonal or retinal damage induced by optic nerve injury in the rat. METHODS: A partial crush lesion was inflicted unilaterally on the optic nerve, 2 mm behind the globe, in adult Wistar albino rats. Animals were treated with the vehicle, 10 or 30 mg/kg lomerizine. Each solution was given orally twice daily for 4 weeks. One week before euthanization, Fluoro-Gold (FG) was injected into both superior colliculi to retrogradely label surviving retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Approximately 1 month after the optic nerve injury, the retinal damage was assessed morphologically, and the optic nerve axons surrounding the initial lesion were examined histologically. RESULTS: The mean RGC density in the control group decreased to 65.9 +/- 1.32% of the contralateral eye, whereas the systemic application of 10 or 30 mg/kg of lomerizine significantly enhanced the RGC survival to 88.1 +/- 0.38% and 89.8 +/- 0.28%, respectively. Histological examination of damaged axons revealed no significant enhancement of the density or total number of axons of the retinal ganglion cells in the lomerizine-treated group. The crush force we employed caused no significant morphological differences in the retinal layers between the sham-operated animals and the animals from the experimental groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that lomerizine alleviates secondary degeneration of RGCs induced by an optic nerve crush injury in the rat, presumably by improving the impaired axoplasmic flow.     

视网膜下移植睫状神经营养因子编码基因修饰的细胞保护SD大鼠视神经横断伤后视网膜节细胞变性

目的探讨移植表达睫状神经营养因子(CNTF)的细胞对SD大鼠视神经横断伤后视网膜节细胞的保护作用。方法通过脂质体将CNTF表达质粒转移至人胚肺成纤维细胞,建立稳定、高水平表达CNTF的细胞株。采用双侧背外侧膝状体及上丘核团注射3%荧光金逆行标记视网膜节细胞。将标记后的大鼠分为两组,于标记后7d手术切断眶内段视神经其中一组左眼不做手术作为正常对照组,右眼切断视神经作为手术对照组;另一组双眼均手术切断视神经,左眼注射PBS作为治疗对照组,右眼视网膜下移植表达CNTF的细胞作为实验组。术后5、14、17、21及28d取出眼球,铺片后荧光显微镜观察并计数视网膜内存活的节细胞。结果手术切断眶内段视神经后2周,视网膜内节细胞数减少6744%,视网膜下移植表达CNTF的细胞后第5、17、21d视网膜内存活的节细胞数明显多于治疗对照组(P<005)。结论视网膜下移植高水平表达CNTF的细胞对视网膜节细胞有保护作用。     

饱和氢气水对大鼠视神经夹伤模型视网膜神经节细胞保护作用的实验研究

 目的 探索饱和氢气水对大鼠视神经夹伤模型视网膜神经节细胞（RGC）的保护作用。设计 实验研究。研究对象 SPF级SD大鼠18只。方法 对18只大鼠采用随机数表法随机分为3组,每组6只。均选取右眼为实验眼,左眼为正常对照眼。使用40 g微型视神经夹在大鼠视神经球后2 mm处夹持60 s建立视神经夹伤模型。A组给予饱和氢气水腹腔注射,5 ml/kg,每日1次;B组和C组分别给予饱和氢气水和生理盐水滴眼,每次1滴,每日3次。用药第9天,麻醉下采用3%荧光金双上丘两点注射法逆行标记大鼠RGC,第14天深麻醉下取眼球并处死动物,行视网膜定向铺片,距离视乳头中心上下左右各2 mm 拍摄照片,盲法计数RGC。主要指标 RGC存活率。结果 A组、B组和C组RGC存活率分别为40.35%±13.04%、58.34%±14.00%和43.07%±7.80%（F=3.965, P=0.041）。其中B组与A组和C组之间均有显著性差异（P=0.020;P=0.042）;A组和C组之间无显著性差异（P=0.698）。结论 饱和氢气水滴眼2周对大鼠视神经夹伤模型视网膜神经节细胞可能具有一定的保护作用。（眼科,2014, 23： 107-110）     

超声微泡造影剂联合美金胺增强视神经损伤大鼠视网膜神经节细胞保护作用

目的 探讨超声微泡造影剂联合美金胺对视神经损伤大鼠视网膜神经节细胞( RGC)的保护作用.方法 将Sprague-Dawley(SD)雄性成年大鼠40只随机分为正常对照组(A组),假手术组(B组),空白对照组(C组),玻璃体腔单独注射美金胺组(D组),玻璃体腔注射美金胺加超声微泡组(E组)5个组,每组8只大鼠,再将各组随机分为视神经损伤后1、2周2个亚组,各亚组4只大鼠.A组不做任何处理;B组只暴露视神经,不进行钳夹,玻璃体腔注射生理盐水,立即用超声波辐照大鼠眼球;C～E组建立视神经钳夹伤模型后,处理方式分别为C组玻璃体腔注射生理盐水,D组玻璃体腔注射美金胺,E组玻璃体腔注射超声微泡造影剂及美金胺,立即用超声波辐照大鼠眼球.视神经损伤1、2周时,各组行逆行荧光金标记RGC并计数;闪光视觉诱发电位(F-VEP)检测,记录P100波潜伏期及振幅;荧光电子显微镜下观察视网膜细胞形态学改变.结果 逆行荧光金标记RGC结果显示,各处理组视网膜定向铺片上均可见金黄色着染的RGC.A、B组RGC数间差异无统计学意义(q=0.018,0.011;P=0.986,0.873);C～E组RGC数均较A组减少,差异具有统计学意义(F=85.944,P=0.012);D组RGC数多于C组,差异具有统计学意义(q=1.721,1.924;P=0.043,0.037);E组RGC数明显高于C、D组,差异具有统计学意义(q=1.128,1.482,P=0.027,0.008;q=1.453,1.855,P=0.031,0.010).F-VEP检测发现,A、B组P100波潜伏期及振幅间差异无统计学意义(q=0.008,0.019,P=0.981,0.946;q=0.072,0.052,P=0.737,0.851) ;C～E组P100波潜伏期较A组延长,振幅较A组降低,差异具有统计学意义(F=134.312,106.312;P=0.017,0.009).荧光电子显微镜下观察发现,A、B组大鼠视网膜各层结构完整,排列整齐,RGC排列紧密整齐,细胞核均匀深染,胞核大小一致.C～E组大鼠的视网膜不同程度水肿变厚,RGC有不同程度的排列紊乱,空泡化及细胞数目减少.结论 超声微泡造影剂联合美金胺能抑制视神经损伤后大鼠RGC的丢失,促进其视功能的恢复,对视神经损伤大鼠的RGC具有保护作用.     

Inflammatory demyelination induces axonal injury and retinal ganglion cell apoptosis in experimental optic neuritis

Optic neuritis is an inflammatory disease of the optic nerve that often occurs in patients with multiple sclerosis and leads to permanent visual loss mediated by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) damage. Optic neuritis occurs with high frequency in relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis, with significant loss of RGCs. In the current study, mechanisms of RGC loss in this model were examined to determine whether inflammation-induced axonal injury mediates apoptotic death of RGCs. RGCs were retrogradely labeled by injection of fluorogold into superior colliculi of 6-7 week old female SJL/J mice. EAE was induced one week later by immunization with proteolipid protein peptide. Optic neuritis was detected by inflammatory cell infiltration on histological examination as early as 9 days after immunization, with peak incidence by day 12. Demyelination occurred 1-2 days after inflammation began. Loss of RGC axons was detected following demyelination, with significant axonal loss occurring by day 13 post-immunization. Axonal loss occurred prior to loss of RGC bodies at day 14. Apoptotic cells were also observed at day 14 in the ganglion cell layer of eyes with optic neuritis, but not in control eyes. Together these results suggest that inflammatory cell infiltration mediates demyelination and leads to direct axonal injury in this model of experimental optic neuritis. RGCs die by an apoptotic mechanism triggered by axonal injury. Potential neuroprotective therapies to prevent permanent RGC loss from optic neuritis will likely need to be initiated prior to axonal injury to preserve neuronal function.     

大鼠视神经压榨伤模型的建立

目的建立大鼠标定性视神经损伤模型.方法健康SD大鼠28只,7只为正常对照组,只进行双上丘注射3%快蓝逆行标记视网膜神经节细胞(retinal ganglion cells,RGCs),另21只为标定性视神经损伤组,依损伤后存活时间的不同再分为A组(4d组)、B组(14d组)及C组(21d组),每组7只.21只大鼠以夹持力为40 g的特制视神经夹,在大鼠眼球后2 mm处夹持视神经4s,制成大鼠标定性视神经压榨伤模型,于处死前3d采用双上丘直接注射3%快蓝(fast blue)法标记双眼RGCs,将全视网膜铺片置于荧光显微镜下,在距视乳头1 mm处的颞上、颞下、鼻下、鼻上4处作荧光摄影(400 ×),并输入计算机经图像分析仪计数RGCs,按RGCs标识率进行统计学比较.RGCs标识率=损伤眼(右眼)RGCs数/未损伤眼(左眼)RGCs数×100%.结果正常大鼠的RGCs标识率右眼RGCs数/左眼RGCs数为99.79%±13.05%,左眼RGCs数/右眼RGCs数为101.86%±13.91%,无论是用左眼的RGCs数比右眼的RGCs数,或用右眼的RGCs数比左眼的RGCs数,其结果无显著性差异(P＞0.5).视神经损伤组的RGCs标识率A组(4d组)RGCs标识率为77.79%±7.11%;B组(14d组)RGCs标识率为63.76%±3.79%;C组(21d组)RGCs标识率为54.66%±4.75%.以上显示,损伤各组的RGCs标识率明显低于正常对照组(P＜0.05),且随着时间的推移,损伤A、B、C组的RGCs标识率渐进性降低.结论用特制的夹持力为40 g的视神经夹,夹持正常大鼠视神经4s,可造成部分性RGCs丧失,随大鼠存活时间的推移,RGCs呈渐进性丧失.眼科学报2001;1799～102.     

大鼠视神经损伤后视网膜小胶质细胞表达的初步观察

目的 研究大鼠视神经损伤后视网膜中小胶质细胞的表达情况.方法 实验研究.选取30只成年雌性健康SD大鼠,按照随机数字表法分为实验组和对照组各15只,分别用于细胞计数、免疫组织化学及免疫印迹实验.实验组在眼球后约1.5 ～2.0 mm处行右眼视神经鞘内切断术,术后5d于视神经断端处用荧光金逆行标记视网膜节细胞,手术后7d处死取材.对照组小鼠右眼行视神经切断术并标记,2d后处死取材.视网膜做铺片用于计数.用免疫组织化学法于视网膜切片上行小胶质细胞的表面标记物Iba-1染色,观察小胶质细胞的形态及数量,同时应用免疫印迹法检测视网膜内Iba-1蛋白含量的变化.两组间比较采用非配对student t-检验进行统计学分析.结果 对照组视网膜中有少量小胶质(Iba-1阳性)细胞表达,并呈非活化状态.视神经切断7d后小胶质细胞明显增多且呈半活化状态,免疫印迹结果显示损伤后Iba-1蛋白表达量明显增加到对照组的2.3倍(t=7.669,P=0.001).视视神经切断7d后节细胞数量为(1182±64)个/mm2,明显减少至对照组的51％(t=23.850,P＜0.01).结论 大鼠视神经损伤后小胶质细胞表达增多且呈部分激活状态,可能是视网膜受损后自我保护的表现之一.     

Myelin Sheath Decompaction, Axon Swelling, and Functional Loss during Chronic Secondary Degeneration in Rat Optic Nerve

Purpose. To examine chronic changes occurring at 6 months following partial optic nerve (ON) transection, assessing optic axons, myelin, and visual function. Methods. Dorsal ON axons were transected, leaving ventral optic axons vulnerable to secondary degeneration. At 3 and 6 months following partial transection, toluidine-blue stained sections were used to assess dimensions of the ON injury site. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of ventral ON were used to quantify numbers, diameter, area, and myelin thickness of optic axons. Immunohistochemistry and fluoromyelin staining were used to assess semiquantitatively myelin protein, lipids in ventral ON, and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in midventral retina. Visuomotor function was assessed using optokinetic nystagmus. Results. Following partial ON transection, optic axons and function remained disrupted at 6 months. Although ventral ON swelling observed at 3 months (P ≤ 0.05) receded to normal by 6 months, ultrastructurally, myelinated axons remained swollen (P ≥ 0.05), and myelin thickness increased (P ≤ 0.05) due to loosening of lamellae and an increase in the number of intraperiodic lines. Axons with decompacted myelin persisted and were distinguished as having large axonal calibers and thicker myelin sheaths. Nevertheless, progressive loss of myelin lipid staining with fluoromyelin was seen at 6 months. Despite no further loss of ventral optic axons between 3 and 6 months (P ≥ 0.05), visuomotor function progressively declined at 6 months following partial transection (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions. Continued decompaction of myelin, altered myelin structure, and swelling of myelinated axons are persistent features of the chronic phases of secondary degeneration and likely contribute to progressive loss of visual function.     

Translimbal laser photocoagulation to the trabecular meshwork as a model of glaucoma in rats

PURPOSE: To develop and characterize a model of pressure-induced optic neuropathy in rats. METHODS: Experimental glaucoma was induced unilaterally in 174 Wistar rats, using a diode laser with wavelength of 532 nm aimed at the trabecular meshwork and episcleral veins (combination treatment group) or only at the trabecular meshwork (trabecular group) through the external limbus. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured by a tonometer in rats under ketamine-xylazine anesthesia. Possible retinal vascular compromise was evaluated by repeated fundus examinations and by histology. The degree of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss was assessed by a masked, semiautomated counting of optic nerve axons. Effects of laser treatment on anterior ocular structures and retina were judged by light microscopy. RESULTS: After the laser treatment, IOP was increased in all eyes to higher than the normal mean IOP of 19.4 +/- 2.1 mm Hg (270 eyes). Peak IOP was 49.0 +/- 6.1 mm Hg (n = 108) in the combination group that was treated by a laser setting of 0.7 seconds and 0.4 W and 34.0 +/- 5.7 mm Hg (n = 46) in the trabecular group. Mean IOP after 6 weeks was 25.5 +/- 2.9 mm Hg in glaucomatous eyes in the combination group compared with 22.0 +/- 1.8 mm Hg in the trabecular group. IOP in the glaucomatous eyes was typically higher than in the control eyes for at least 3 weeks. In the combination group, RGC loss was 16.1% +/- 14.4% at 1 week (n = 8, P = 0.01), 59.7% +/- 25.7% at 6 weeks (n = 88, P < 0.001), and 70.9% +/- 23.6% at 9 weeks (n = 12, P < 0.001). The trabecular group had mean axonal loss of 19.1% +/- 14.0% at 3 weeks (n = 9, P = 0.004) and 24.3% +/- 20.2% at 6 weeks (n = 25, P < 0.001), increasing to 48.4% +/- 32.8% at 9 weeks (n = 12, P < 0.001). Laser treatment led to closure of intertrabecular spaces and the major outflow channel. The retina and choroid were normal by ophthalmoscopy at all times after treatment. Light microscopic examination showed only loss of RGCs and their nerve fibers. CONCLUSIONS: Increased IOP caused by a laser injury to the trabecular meshwork represents a useful and efficient model of experimental glaucoma in rats.     

Neuroprotective effect of inosine on axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult rats

PURPOSE: To explore the potential survival-promoting effect of inosine on axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of adult rats in vivo. METHODS: The left optic nerves (ON) in the subject rats were transected at 1.5 mm from the optic disc. Repeated intraperitoneal injections or single intraocular injection of inosine were administered. The RGCs were retrogradely labeled with a gold fluorescent dye and the density of surviving RGCs in number per square millimeter of retina was calculated in wholemounted retinas. The functional integrity of the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) after ON transection was evaluated with an intravenous injection of Evans blue. RESULTS: In control animals, the mean density of surviving RGCs (number per square millimeter) of the whole retina was 2007 +/- 68 at 2 days (taken as the normal value), 927 +/- 156 at 7 days, and 384 +/- 33 at 14 days after surgery. Repeated intraperitoneal injections (75 mg/kg for each injection) of inosine significantly enhanced RGC survival at 14 days after ON transection (500 +/- 38), whereas no significant difference in the densities was detected at 7 days (974 +/- 101), even when the dosage of inosine was doubled (1039 +/- 61). At this time point, however, a single intraocular injection of inosine significantly increased the density of surviving RGCs (1184 +/- 156). Moreover, more RGCs around the optic disc were rescued when inosine, administered either intraperitoneally or intraocularly, showed a beneficial effect on RGC survival. No breakdown of the BRB after ON transection was detected with the method used in the study. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that inosine could protect axotomized RGCs in vivo after ON transection.     

灯盏细辛对大鼠视神经压榨伤后视网膜神经节细胞的保护作用

目的　探讨中草药灯盏细辛对大鼠标定性视神经压榨伤所致的视网膜神经节细胞(RGC)损伤的防护和修复作用。方法　 4 2只健康SD大鼠随机均分为A组和B组。两组均用特制微型视神经夹直接夹持视神经 ,制作成单眼视神经部分压榨伤模型后 ,A组不予任何治疗 ,B组予以灯盏细辛治疗 ,直至处死动物。以上两组按致伤日至处死日动物的存活时间又分为 :A1组和B1组 (损伤后 4d) ,A2 组和B2 组 (损伤后 14d) ,A3 组和B3 组 (损伤后 2 1d) ,每组各 7只大鼠。于处死前 3d双上丘直接注射 3%快蓝标记双眼RGC。处死日行眼球摘除术后 ,将双眼全视网膜组织铺片置于荧光显微镜下 ,在距视乳头 1mm处的颞上、颞下、鼻下及鼻上 4处作荧光摄影 ,并输入计算机经图像分析仪计数RGC。计算RGC标识率 ,即 (损伤眼RGC数 /未损伤眼RGC数 )× 10 0 % ,并进行统计学分析。结果　A组大鼠中 ,A1、A2 及A3 组的RGC标识率分别为 (77 79± 7 11) %、(6 3 76± 3 79) %、(5 4 6 6±4 75 ) % ;B组大鼠中 ,B1、B2 及B3 组的RGC标识率分别为 (80 13± 12 0 3) %、(78 17± 9 19) %及(83 5 9± 12 6 1) %。A2 和A3 组分别与B2 和B3 组比较 ,差异均有非常显著意义 (t=14 10 8,36 2 0 3;P<0 0 1)。结论　大鼠标定性视神经压榨伤后用灯盏细辛治疗 ,     

Time-course of the retinal nerve fibre layer degeneration after complete intra-orbital optic nerve transection or crush: A comparative study

We examined qualitatively and quantitatively in adult rat retinas the temporal degeneration of the nerve fibre layer after intra-orbital optic nerve transection (IONT) or crush (IONC). Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons were identified by their heavy neurofilament subunit phosphorylated isoform (pNFH) expression. Optic nerve injury induces a progressive axonal degeneration which after IONT proceeds mainly with abnormal pNFH-accumulations in RCG axons and after IONC in RGCs somas and dendrites. Importantly, this aberrant pNFH-expression pattern starts earlier and is more dramatic after IONT than after IONC, highlighting the importance that the type of injury has on the time-course of RGC degeneration.     

The Protective Role of Mecobalamin Following Optic Nerve Crush in Adult Rats

IntroductionProgressivelossofganglioncellsandtheiraxonsisafeatureofoculardiseasessuchasopticnervedamage,glaucoma,ischemia,andinfla鄄mmation.Thelossofganglioncellsaffectsbothopticnervefibersandtheirsheaths.Thisresultsinalossofneuralnutritionandalossofbloodandoxygensupplythatcanleadtotheaccum鄄ulationofextracellularglutamateresultinginexcitoxitywhichinfluencestheconductionofvisualelectricsignals.Thesetwofactorsresultinapoptosisofretinalganglioncells[1].Furthermore,degenerationcontinuestoprogres…     

Obstructed axonal transport of BDNF and its receptor TrkB in experimental glaucoma

PURPOSE: In both animal model system and in human glaucoma, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) die by apoptosis. To understand how RGC apoptosis is initiated in these systems, the authors studied RGC neurotrophin transport in experimental glaucoma using acute intraocular pressure (IOP) elevations in rats and chronic IOP elevation and unilateral optic nerve transections in monkeys. METHODS: Eyes were studied in masked fashion by light and electron microscopy and by immunohistochemistry with antibodies directed against the tyrosine kinase receptors (TrkA, B, and C) and against brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as by autoradiography to identify retrograde axonal transport of 125I-BDNF injected into the superior colliculus. RESULTS: With acute glaucoma in the rat, RGC axons became abnormally dilated, accumulating vesicles presumed to be moving in axonal transport at the optic nerve head. Label for TrkB, but not TrkA, was relatively increased at and behind the optic nerve head with IOP elevation. Abnormal, focal labeling for TrkB and BDNF was identified in axons of monkey optic nerve heads with chronic glaucoma. With acute IOP elevation in rats, radiolabeled BDNF arrived at cells in the RGC layer at less than half the level of control eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Interruption of BDNF retrograde transport and accumulation of TrkB at the optic nerve head in acute and chronic glaucoma models suggest a role for neurotrophin deprivation in the pathogenesis of RGC death in glaucoma.