Direct demonstration of transsynaptic degeneration in the human visual system: a comparison of retrograde and anterograde changes.
Transneuronal degeneration of retinal ganglion cells was directly demonstrated in a patient who had unilateral removal of the striate cortex forty years prior to necropsy. For comparison, another case is presented showing anterograde transneuronal atrophy forty years after enucleation of one eye.
D000368:Aged; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009897:Optic Chiasm / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012683:Sensory Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology