title: Morphometric analysis of the optic nerve in experimental hydrocephalus-induced rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It was the aim of this study to investigate changes caused to the optic nerve of rats submitted to experimental hydrocephalus through morphometric analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  At postnatal day 7, the rats underwent injection of kaolin into the cisterna magna, were sacrificed at postnatal day 14, 21 or 28, and the right optic nerves were dissected. We analyzed the area, minor diameter, densities of oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, total and damaged fibers as well as the relationship between damaged and total fibers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At postnatal day 14, there was a reduction in the density of astrocytes and damaged fibers when compared to the controls. At postnatal day 21, the area and the minor diameter were reduced compared to the controls, and the densities of oligodendrocytes and damaged fibers were increased compared to the controls. At postnatal day 28, there was a reduction in the area and the minor diameter and an increase in the densities of oligodendrocytes, astrocytes and damaged fibers when compared to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The optic nerve of rats submitted to experimental hydrocephalus suffers morphometric changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Anatomy, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. betina77 @ gmail.com
authors.forename: Betina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aisengart
authors.forename: João Kazuyuki
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kajiwara
authors.forename: Karinna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Veríssimo Meira
authors.forename: Luiza
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: da Silva Lopes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000473:pathology; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000473:pathology*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000473:pathology; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D010784:Photomicrography; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012720:Severity of Illness Index