活化的巨噬细胞在体内对成年大鼠视神经夹伤后视网膜神经节细胞的保护作用

目的:评估活化的巨噬细胞对于视神经损伤后视网膜神经节细胞存活的影响。 方法:成年Wistar大鼠随机分为2组，A组左眼为正常对照组，右眼为单纯视神经夹伤组；B组按夹伤后眼内注射药物不同，每只大鼠右眼为酵母多糖组，左眼为PBS组。采用双上丘和外侧膝状体注射3%荧光金标记双眼视网膜神经节细胞7 d后，除正常对照组外均应用40 g力的视神经夹在大鼠眼球后2 mm处夹视神经9 s，观察视神经夹伤后不同时间，视网膜神经节细胞存活数。视网膜进行ED-1染色以鉴定是否有巨噬细胞被激活。 结果:正常对照组、视神经夹伤组及PBS组中未见ED-1阳性巨噬细胞，酵母多糖处理组中在视网膜表面可见ED-1阳性巨噬细胞。正常对照组及视神经夹伤对照组RGC逆行标记3、7、14、21 d细胞数不同。视神经夹伤组被标记的RGC分别相当于正常对照组的92.6%、82.9%、69.6%、57.6%。酵母多糖治疗组在夹伤后3、7、14、21 d标记的RGC数分别相当于正常对照组的99.6%、89.2%、72.6%、62.6%，均显著高于视神经夹伤组。 结论:玻璃体内注射酵母多糖可激活巨噬细胞，激活巨噬细胞可以促进视神经损伤后视网膜神经节细胞的存活。     

Viability of retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve crush in adult rats

Summary The response of retinal ganglion cells to optic nerve crush was examined in the hooded rat. Intracranial nerve crush produces a transient shrinkage of the retinal ganglion cells during the first several weeks postoperatively but partial recovery of cell size then appears to occur. This transient response is considered to be a direct response to axotomy. Retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is clearly demonstrated at 2 weeks postoperatively. Transport of newly synthesized protein progressively decreases over the first 2 postoperative months. The ganglion cell therefore retains viability for at least the first few weeks after axotomy. Loss of 60% of the neurons in the ganglion cell layer occurs between 3 and 7 months postoperatively. This late occurring retrograde response is considered to result at least in part from loss of sustaining trophic influences rather than as a direct result of the lesion.     

Different effects of intracranial and intraorbital section of the optic nerve on the functional responses of rat retinal ganglion cells

Summary A lesion to the optic nerve of adult mammals leads to the retrograde degeneration and finally to the death of injured retinal ganglion cells. In this study, we have evaluated the effects induced by different sites of axotomy on the functional changes occurring in the retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve section. We have investigated the functional properties of retinal ganglion cells of adult rats by recording the retinal responses to patterned stimuli (pattern electroretinogram) after unilateral section of the optic nerve at two different levels: intraorbital and intracranial. The results show that the site of lesion of the optic nerve affects the time of disappearance of the pattern electroretinogram. The pattern electroretinogram takes longer to be degraded after an intracranial section than an intraorbital section.     

不同给药途径的聚乙二醇对大鼠视神经切断后视网膜神经节细胞存活的影响

目的:比较不同给药途径的聚乙二醇(PEG)对成年大鼠视神经切断后视网膜神经节细胞(节细胞)存活的影响。方法:72只成年SD大鼠左眼球后1.5 mm处横断视神经,眶侧断端留置浸有荧光金的明胶海绵以逆行标记存活的节细胞。术后立即尾静脉注射1 ml 30%PEG(尾静脉注射PEG组)或等体积生理盐水(尾静脉注射盐水对照组),或在视神经眶侧断端留置浸有50%PEG(局部PEG组)或生理盐水(局部盐水对照组)的明胶海绵。四组动物(n=18)分别存活2、7 d或14 d(每时间点,n=6)后处死,取术侧视网膜,平铺计数存活节细胞并计算出节细胞密度。结果:术后7 d尾静脉注射PEG组存活节细胞平均密度(1121.43 mm2±42.69/mm2)显著高于尾静脉注射盐水对照组(846.67/mm2±58.19/mm2,P<0.05),而2 d和14 d时间点两组节细胞密度间无显著性差异(P>0.05);局部PEG组节细胞密度在各时间点与局部盐水对照组相比均无显著性差异(P>0.05);在7 d点,尾静脉注射PEG组节细胞密度显著高于局部PEG组(774.43/mm2±50.49/mm2,P<0.05)。结论:PEG能在视神经切断后一定时间内延缓节细胞死亡,且这种神经保护作用有赖于PEG的给药途径。     

The role of Bax-inhibiting peptide in retinal ganglion cell apoptosis after optic nerve transection

Bax, a pro-apoptotic member of Bcl-2 family proteins, plays a central role in mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Bax normally resides in the cytosol in a quiescent state. Bax-inhibiting peptide (BIP) is a membrane permeable peptide comprised of five amino acids designed from the Bax-binding domain of Ku70 [M. Sawada, P. Hayes, S. Matsuyama, Cytoprotective membrane-permeable peptides designed from the Bax-binding domain of Ku70, Nat. Cell Biol. 5 (2003) 352-357]. It inhibits Bax-mediated translocation of cytochrome c and suppresses mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. BIP was used in order to elucidate its role in preventing retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death from apoptosis after optic nerve transection (ONT) in adult Wistar rats. RGC survival was significantly higher in animals with intravitreal injection of BIP, when compared with control animals. These findings suggest that BIP prevented RGC apoptosis after ONT prompting the suggestion that Bax plays a central role in RGC apoptosis after ONT.     

Regrowth of retinal ganglion cell axons into a peripheral nerve graft in the adult hamster is enhanced by a concurrent optic nerve crush

Summary Transplantation of a segment of peripheral nerve to the retina of the adult hamster resulted in regrowth of damaged ganglion cell axons into the graft, with the fastest regenerating axons extending at 2 mm/day after an initial delay of 4.5 days (Cho and So 1987b). In this study, the effect of making 2 lesions on the same axon (the conditioning lesion effect) on the regrowth of ganglion cell axons into the peripheral nerve graft was examined. When a conditioning lesion (first lesion) was made by crushing the optic nerve 7 or 14 days before the peripheral nerve grafting (the second lesion) to the retina, the distance of regrowth achieved by the fastest regenerating axons in the graft, measured at the 7th post-grafting day, was lower than in animals with a peripheral nerve grafted to a normal eye. This indicated that in contrast to the situation in peripheral nerve axons (Forman et al. 1980) and goldfish optic axons (Edwards et al. 1981), the conditioning lesion was unable to enhance the regrowth of mammalian retinal ganglion cell axons. However, when crushing of the optic nerve was followed immediately by peripheral nerve grafting, an enhancement in axonal regrowth could be observed. The initial delay time before the axons extended into the peripheral nerve graft was reduced by 1 day while the rate of elongation of the fastest regrowing axons in the graft apparently remained unchanged. Moreover, the shortening of the initial delay could still be observed even when the sequence of performing the 2 lesions was reversed. From these data, it was concluded that the classical conditioning lesion effect was not responsible for the enhancement observed. Rather it was suggested that changes in the intra-retinal environment brought about by crushing of the optic nerve might account for it.     

A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the response of the retinal ganglion cell soma after stretch injury to the adult guinea-pig optic nerve

Summary The development of a model for focal axonal injury in the optic nerve of the adult guinea-pig has allowed a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the response of the retinal ganglion cell soma to this type of injury. Large and medium sized retinal ganglion cells show classic central chromatolysis in about 30% of ganglion cells between three and seven days after injury, a high proportion of which undergo degeneration between seven and 14 days. Small ganglion cells and small neurons do not demonstrate any morphological response to stretch injury of the optic nerve. However, a small number of larger ganglion cells demonstrate enlargement of the cell soma and nucleolus together with reconstitution of the rough endoplasmic reticulum between seven and 14 days after stretch injury. We suggest that these cells are either recovering from or regenerating after a non-disruptive lesion to their axons. We suggest that some of these morphological changes parallel documented regenerative responses in peripheral/extrinsic neurons after injury to their axons. We conclude that the time course of the axon reaction after stretch injury to axons is longer than that obtained after crush or transection. We provide good morphological evidence that the level of injury after application of non-disruptive mechanical strain to axons is less severe than in the former two models of axonal injury and that a proportion of damaged neurons do not die but rather demonstrate either/or recovery or a regenerative response.     

Curcumin protects the dorsal root ganglion and sciatic nerve after crush in rat

The goal of this study was to quantify the histological changes in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and the sciatic nerve in rats subjected to sciatic nerve crush (SNC) following curcumin treatment. The rats were divided into four groups, each including five animals, and underwent the following intervention: group I: control animals which received olive oil; group II: sham-operated animals whose skin of the posterior thigh was opened, sutured, and received the vehicle; group III: SNC animals which received the vehicle; and group IV: SNC plus curcumin (100 mg/kg/day) solved in the vehicle. On the 28th day, the fifth lumbar DRG and sciatic nerve were removed. Volume of the ganglion, mean cell volume, total volume of DRG cells (A- and B-cells), and total surface of DRG cells, total number, diameter, and area of the myelinated nerve fibers were estimated using stereological methods. Except for the volume of the ganglion, all other parameters were decreased after nerve crush. In curcumin-treated rats, these parameters decreased, but to a lesser extent, and the values were significantly higher than in the non-treated SNC group (p < 0.04).It can be concluded that in rats after crush, curcumin has a protective effect on the DRG and sciatic nerve.     

Long term survival of cat retinal ganglion cells after intracranial optic nerve transection

Summary After intracranial transection of the optic nerve in cats the retinal stump of the nerve was injected with HRP. Surviving retinal ganglion cells can be retrogradely labeled at least up to 15.5 months of postoperative survival.     

Factors affecting the survival of cat retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve injury

Summary After partial transection of one optic nerve in adult cats the majority of retinal ganglion cells degenerate and die 1 week after axotomy, whilst other cell classes degenerate slowly and survive for a long period after the lesion. We have investigated the effects of intravitreal and intraperitoneal injections of MK-801, a NMDA-glutamate receptor antagonist, on the early degeneration of retinal ganglion cells after partial optic nerve section. Control animals received saline intravitreal injections. Retinal flat mounts were retrogradely labelled with horseradish peroxidase and counterstained with Cresyl Violet. We evaluated the ganglion cell loss in the three experimental groups 1 week after lesion and compared them with normal uninjured controls and injured untreated retinae. In untreated retinae 49% of ganglion cells die 1 week after the lesion. Systemic MK-801 treatment prolonged survival of 41% of retinal ganglion cells that would die without treatment. Intravitreal MK-801 or saline prolonged survival of 71% of retinal ganglion cells that would die without treatment, but the results of saline administration had a larger range of variability. In untreated retinae many pyknotic cells were observed. The decreased in number after systemic MK-801 treatment and in some retinae treated with intravitreal injections of saline solution. There were no pyknotic cells after local, intravitreal MK-801 treatment. These results support the hypothesis that NMDA-receptor mediated neurotoxicity plays an important role in the early retinal ganglion cell death after retrobulbar axotomy. They also support the existence of an endogenous source of neurotrophins whose release is triggered by eyeball injury. We conclude that the early death of retinal ganglion cells after axotomy occurs by a mechanism that can be controlled by neurotrophins and antagonists to NMDA-glutamate receptors.To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

Neurogenesis in the retinal ganglion cell layer of the rat.

The present study has examined the birthdates of neurons in the retinal ganglion cell layer of the adult rat. Rat fetuses were exposed to tritiated thymidine in utero to label neurons departing the mitotic cycle at different gestational stages from embryonic days 12 through to 22. Upon reaching adulthood, rats were either given unilateral injections of horseradish peroxidase into target visual nuclei in order to discriminate (1) ganglion cells from displaced amacrine cells, (2) decussating from non-decussating ganglion cells, and (3) alpha cells from other ganglion cell types; or, their retinae were immunohistochemically processed to reveal the choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive amacrine cells in the ganglion cell layer. Retinae were embedded flat in resin and cut en face to enable reconstruction of the distribution of labelled cells. Retinal sections were autoradiographically processed and then examined for neurons that were both tritium-positive and either horseradish peroxidase-positive or choline acetyltransferase-positive. Tritium-positive neurons in the ganglion cell layer were present in rats that had been exposed to tritiated thymidine on embryonic days E14-E22. Retinal ganglion cells were generated between E14 and E20, the ipsilaterally projecting ganglion cells ceasing their neurogenesis a full day before the contralaterally projecting ganglion cells. Alpha cells were generated from the very outset of retinal ganglion cell genesis, at E14, but completed their neurogenesis before the other cell types, by E17. Tritium-positive, horseradish peroxidase-negative neurons in the ganglion cell layer were present from E14 through to E22, and are interpreted as displaced amacrine cells. Choline acetyltransferase-positive displaced amacrine cells were generated between E16 and E20. Individual cell types showed a rough centroperipheral neurogenetic gradient, with the dorsal half of the retina slightly preceding the ventral half. These results demonstrate, first, that retinal ganglion cell genesis and displaced amacrine cell genesis overlap substantially in time. They do not occur sequentially, as has been commonly assumed. Second, they demonstrate that the alpha cell population of retinal ganglion cells and the choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive population of displaced amacrine cells are each generated over a limited time during the periods of overall ganglion cell and displaced amacrine cell genesis, respectively. Third, they show that the very earliest ganglion cells to be generated in the temporal retina have exclusively uncrossed optic axons, while the later cells to be generated therein have an increasing propensity to navigate a crossed chiasmatic course.     

Fibroblast growth factors promote the survival of adult rat retinal ganglion cells after transection of the optic nerve

Basic and acidic fibroblast growth factors (FGF) were implanted next to the proximal stump of the transected optic nerve of adult rats, in order to assess whether these molecules have neurotrophic activity in vivo. Of the 119,973 +/- 2484 (S.E.M.) retinal ganglion cells present in retinae of unoperated control rats, 11,375 +/- 2413 (S.E.M.) remained at 30 days after transection of the optic nerve in control operated rats. After implantation of gel foam soaked in basic FGF, the number of retinal ganglion cells surviving at 30 days after axotomy tripled (36,387 +/- 3270 (S.E.M.], after acidic FGF, it increased almost 4-fold (40,916 +/- 5405 (S.E.M.]. These results indicate that FGF has neurotrophic activity in the adult central nervous system, and that this molecule is able to rescue adult retinal ganglion cells from axotomy induced cell death. It remains to be shown whether FGF acts directly on retinal ganglion cells or indirectly via glial cells or other cells.     

Transplant of embryonal nervous tissue preserves the responses of rat retinal ganglion cells after section of the optic nerve

Summary We have investigated the effectiveness of embryonal tectal tissue transplants in preserving the physiological activity of lesioned ganglion cells by recording the visual responses from the adult rat retina after section of the optic nerve, with or without transplants of embryonal nervous tissue on the stump. We have found that transplant of embryonal nervous tissue at the level of the optic nerve section has dramatic effects in preserving visual retinal responses to patterned stimuli for times as long as five months after surgery. By this time retinal responses to patterned stimuli have almost completely disappeared in control animals with optic nerve section alone.     

霍乱毒素及外周神经对视神经远端切断后视网膜谷氨酸能节细胞再生的作用

目的：探讨霍乱毒素(CTx)及外周神经对成年金黄地鼠远端视神经受损后视网膜谷氨酸((Glu)能节细胞(RGCs)再生的作用。方法：远端切断视神经并缝接自体坐骨神经(AG),玻璃体内注射CTx及／或植入小段坐骨神经分支(SN)。动物分为AG CTx组;AG SN组;AG SN CTx组,分别存活4W、5W,荧光金和免疫荧光组织化学双标法标记再生的RGCs。结果：术后5W,AG CTx组;AG SN组;AG SN CTx组Glu免疫反应阳性RGCs再生数分别占再生总数的4.25％、2.50％及6.00％,AG SN组与AG SN CTx组间差异显著。结论：CTx与SN能协同促进视神经远端切断后Glu能节细胞的再生．     

Membrane specialization and axo-glial association in the rat retinal nerve fibre layer: freeze-fracture observations

Summary The ultrastrucrure of non-myelinated ganglion cell axolemma within the retinal nerve fibre layer of adult rats was examined by thin section and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Most of the axolemma within the nerve fibre layer does not exhibit any membrane specializations; intramembranous particles are partitioned with a density of 1750 m^–2 on the P-fracture face and 225 m^–2 on the E-face of the non-specialized axolemma. The nerve fibres also exhibit specialized foci of axolemma, at which the axons are abutted by the tips of blunt, radially oriented processes from Müller cells. At such sites of axo-glial association, an electron-dense undercoating is present beneath the axon membrane. Freeze-fracture analysis revealed a substantial increase in the density of E-face particles (>500 m^–2) at sites of association between the tips of blunt glial processes and the axon. These findings demonstrate that non-myelinated axolemma of the retinal nerve fibre layer can exhibit spatial heterogeneity, with patches of node-like membrane at regions of specialized association with glial cell processes. On the basis of their morphological similarity to nodes of Ranvier, we suggest that these specialized axon regions represent foci of inward ionic current.     

霍乱毒素及联合外周神经对视神经损伤后视网膜节细胞再生的影响

目的探讨霍乱毒素(CTx)及其联合外周神经对成年金黄地鼠视神经损伤后再生视网膜节细胞胞体及轴突的影响。方法扎断(MC)成年金黄地鼠视神经(ON)近端,玻璃体内注射CTx,或联合插入小段坐骨神经分支(SN),或切断视神经近端(ONT)并缝接一段自体坐骨神经,并在玻璃体内注射CTx。动物随机分为MC+CTx组、MC+CTx+SN组、ONT+SN+CTx组。各组动物均存活4周。用荧光金逆行标记再生的轴突,在荧光镜下观察视网膜平铺片中再生的视网膜节细胞大小及视神经切片内再生的轴突。结果MC+CTx组、MC+CTx+SN组、ONT+SN+CTx组再生RGCs周长依次为(56.84±18.08)μm、(83.20±28.28)μm、(94.01±32.44)μm,各组间差异有显著性。再生的RGCs有1-2个轴突,在视神经内多呈波浪状,且多走行在视神经边缘。结论各实验组促进再生的视网膜节细胞大小不同,提示霍乱毒素及其联合外周神经可能促进视网膜不同亚型节细胞再生。     

视神经损伤后视神经及其内毛细血管的早期超微结构的变化

目的观察视神经损伤后视神经和神经内毛细血管的超微结构变化,探讨视神经损伤的机制。方法建立家兔视神经损伤的动物模型,利用透射电子显微镜观察视神经及神经内毛细血管超微结构的变化。结果视神经损伤0.5h后,轴突部分肿胀,髓鞘疏松,微管、微丝排列出现紊乱,线粒体肿胀,毛细血管内皮细胞中的吞饮小泡和微绒毛明显减少;损伤6h后,线粒体出现髓样变和空泡样变性,血管内皮细胞肿胀,管腔变窄;损伤12h后,轴突空泡样变性,髓鞘脱失,毛细血管周围间隙增宽;损伤48h后,轴质密度增加,部分髓鞘板层完全分离,微管、微丝及线粒体发生颗粒性溶解,内皮细胞中的线粒体出现广泛变性;损伤96h时,轴索崩解呈空泡状变性,髓鞘更广泛崩解,毛细血管扩张破裂,红细胞外溢。结论视神经损伤早期轴突肿胀、空泡样变性,线粒体水肿变性,微管、微丝数量减少;视神经内毛细血管扩张,通透性增加。     

Microenvironmental changes during axonal regrowth in the optic nerve of the myelin deficient rat. Immunocytochemical and ultrastructural observations

Summary Lesion-induced regenerative sprouting of CNS axons is accompanied by reactions of the supporting glia and vascular and connective tissue which may influence the extent of regeneration. In a previous report, it was shown that after crush injury, the amyelinated optic nerve of the myelin deficient (md) mutant rat contains greater numbers of regrowing axons proximal to the site of crush than that of normally myelinated littermates. The present study was designed to compare the response of the microenvironment, i.e. glial cells and vascular and connective tissue, in md and normally myelinated optic nerves 2, 4 and 6 days after crush injury. In unoperated normal optic nerves monoclonal antibodies to the HNK-1 carbohydrate labelled astrocytic processes at the ultrastructural level whereas in unoperated md mutants HNK-1 staining was restricted to axonal surfaces. Immunoreactivity with monoclonal antibodies to stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) was confined to astrocytic surfaces in both md and wildtype animals. After axotomy of md optic nerves regrowing axons were more numerous in the proximal site of the crush and extended further into the lesion than in wildtype animals. In both md and wildtype rats regrowing axons were HNK-1-positive. In md rats strong reaction with antibodies to laminin and fibronectin was only seen in 6-day-old lesions of md rats whereas immunoreactivity was less distinct in operated littermate controls. Immunolabelling was obviously associated with blood vessels, since crush lesions in both md and wildtype rats were Schwann cell-free as assessed by electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry. In both operated md and normal littermates crush lesions contained degenerating astrocytes as well as reactive astrocytes in which the intermediate filaments of the perikarya failed to stain immunocytochemically for GFAP, vimentin, desmin, and a common determinant of intermediate filaments. In contrast, reactive astrocytes in the lesion site of normally myelinated rats expressed the SSEA-1 antigen intracytoplasmically whereas in md mutants astrocytes were completely SSEA-1-negative. Infiltration of crush lesions by macrophages was less extensive in md rats than in normal littermates. However the overall content of macrophages in the peritoneal cavity was also reduced. The present study demonstrates that (1) md optic nerves lack HNK-1-reactive astrocytes; (2) in the axotomized wildtype optic nerve impaired axonal regrowth may be associated with distinct immuno-phenotypes of the supporting glial cells, i.e. SSEA-1-positive astrocytes; (3) laminin and fibronectin seem not to be essential for improved axonal regrowth in md rats.     

Neuroprotective effect on retinal ganglion cells by transpupillary laser irradiation of the optic nerve head

This study demonstrates that subthreshold transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) laser irradiation on optic nerve head protects retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in an optic nerve crush (ONC) model. TTT was performed in right eyes with an 810-nm diode laser aimed at the center of the optic nerve head, using the following protocol: power 60 mW, duration 60 s, spot size 500 μm. Fluoro-Gold was injected into bilateral superior colliculi 5 days before sacrifice and fluorescent gold labeled RGCs were counted under fluorescence microscopy. In the ONC group, a progressive loss of RGCs was observed; however, in comparison with the ONC group, RGCs density was significantly higher (P = 0.001, independent samples t-test) at day 7 postoperative and only borderline significances were obtained at days 14 and 28 postoperative (P = 0.044 and P = 0.045, respectively, independent samples t-test) in ONC + TTT group, which implies the potential neuroprotective role of TTT. This protective effect seems to be heat shock proteins (HSPs) related, because intraperitoneal Quercetin (an inhibitor of HSPs, 4 mg/kg/day for 7 days) could completely abolish this protective effect at days 7, 14 and 28 postoperative (P = 0.012, P = 0.002, and P = 0.000, respectively, independent samples t-test). Minimal collateral damage of TTT on optic nerve head tissue, peripapillary RGCs and the myelin sheath of the optic nerve were observed under transmission electron microscopy. These findings suggested that subthreshold TTT might be a safe and practical approach to protect RGCs. The underlying mechanisms may involve TTT-induced HSPs in RGCs.