Axonal transport deficit in the optic nerve of rats with inherited retinitis pigmentosa and experimentally induced glaucoma.
BACKGROUND
Aim of this study was to investigate the retrograde axonal transport from optic nerve (ON) to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) in two animal models: in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats, a rat model for retinal degeneration, and in a rat model for glaucoma induced by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).


METHODS
To carry out this study, dextran tetramethylrhodamine (DTMR--an hydrophilic neurotracer dye) was injected into the ON; 24 hrs later, the retina was removed and the number of labeled RGCs of the experimental rats was counted and compared.


RESULTS
The results of these studies showed that the number of fluorescent-labeled RGCs in RCS rats and in rats with elevated IOP was reduced compared to the number of labeled RGCs of their respective controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that RCS rats are characterized not only by loss of photoreceptor cells but also by functional deficits of RGCs.
Sposato
Valentina
V
Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, CNR, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 64/65, I-00143, Rome, Italy.
Iovieno
Alfonso
A
Sornelli
Federica
F
Aloe
Luigi
L
D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002452:Cell Count; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003911:Dextrans; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012235:Rhodamines; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic
D004396:Coloring Agents; D003911:Dextrans; D012235:Rhodamines; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; C539719:dextran tetramethylrhodamine