title: Pattern and extent of demyelination in the optic nerves of mice infected with Semliki Forest virus and the possibility of axonal sprouting.
abstract: The optic nerves of all mice infected with Semliki Forest virus (SFV) showed patchy demyelination, although the extent of demyelination varied between animals. There was a significant increase in small diameter unmyelinated fibres in the optic nerves of SFV infected mice, paralleled by a loss of small myelinated fibres, suggesting that the smaller myelinated fibres may be more susceptible to virus-induced demyelination. The small unmyelinated fibres were more numerous in the peripheral region of the optic nerve trunk, where blood vessels are found in greater numbers. In addition, a particularly large increase in the proportion of unmyelinated fibres which had diameters of less than 0.2 microns suggested the possibility of axonal sprouting.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tansey
authors.forename: V F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Pessoa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Landon
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D012672:Semliki forest virus; D014036:Togaviridae Infections / Q000473:pathology*