Do peripheral nerve extracts protect retinal ganglion cells from axotomy-induced death?
OBJECTIVE
Study the effect of peripheral nerve extracts and BDNF on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) regeneration in adult rats.


METHODS
Postmicrosomal fractions were obtained from 7-day, predegenerated, as well as non-predegenerated peripheral adult rats nerves. Autologous connective tissue chambers filled with fibrin were implanted into a gap-injury site in the optic nerve. Chambers contained either fibrin, the fractions, or BDNF. RGCs retrogradely labeled with DiI were counted, the distance covered by regrowing fibers traced with rhodamine B was measured, and number of myelinated fibers in the middle part of the chambers was estimated.


RESULTS
BDNF and predegenerated nerve extracts enhanced RGC fiber outgrowth. The regeneration was significantly weaker in the groups with non-predegenerated nerve extracts, as well as fibrin, and was absent in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Predegenerated nerve extracts, as well as BDNF, applied to injured optic nerves by means of connective tissue chambers, are able to induce retinal ganglion cell regeneration.
Swiech-Sabuda
Ewa
E
Department of Physiology, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Gołka
Beata
B
Kotulska
Katarzyna
K
Larysz-Brysz
Magdalena
M
Górka
Dariusz
D
Gołka
Dariusz
D
Marcol
Wiesław
W
Lewin-Kowalik
Joanna
J
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D019771:Axotomy / Q000379:methods; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002232:Carbocyanines / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000378:metabolism; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000150:complications; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000378:metabolism; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000637:transplantation; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013997:Time Factors; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*
C035005:3,3'-dihexadecylindocarbocyanine; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002232:Carbocyanines; D012235:Rhodamines; D014020:Tissue Extracts; C029773:rhodamine B