title: Phagocytosis of degenerating myelin in transected feline optic nerve: an immunohistochemical study.
abstract: The phagocytic activity of neuroglial cells in adult feline degenerating optic nerve was investigated by immunocytochemistry at both light and electron microscopy levels. Degeneration was initiated by unilateral eye enucleation and the segment distal to the transection showing true Wallerian degeneration was examined. Following enucleation, twelve adult domestic cats were examined over a period of seven to 215 days. All cases showed slow clearance of myelin debris and absence of proliferating monocytes throughout the post-enucleation period. All phagocytic cells present were neuroglial cells, and many of these cells expressed oligodendroglial antigens. These findings demonstrate the persistence of an active population of oligodendrocytes that might play an additional functional role during Wallerian degeneration of feline optic nerve.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia 6102. s.chew@curtin.edu.au
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chew
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D002415:Cats; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014855:Wallerian Degeneration / Q000473:pathology*; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule