title: Comparison of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thinning and Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss After Optic Nerve Transection in Adult Albino Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared the time-course and magnitude of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning with that of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss after intraorbital optic nerve transection (IONT) in adult rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  At 3, 7, 12, or 21 days, or 1, 2, or 4 months after ONT, the retinas were imaged with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) using the circular-peripapillary scan and volume scan raster pattern (61 horizontal sections equally spaced) both centered in the optic nerve. In all sections, the RNFL and retinal thickness were measured to obtain the total values of the peripapillary scan and the values of three concentric sectors (400, 1200, and 2400 μm in diameter) from the volume scan. After SD-OCT, retinas were dissected and immunoreacted for Brn3a and neurofilaments (pNFH) to identify RGCs and their intraretinal axons, respectively. Total numbers of RGCs were quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thinning of the RNFL was first observed at 12 days in peripapillary scan (10% decrease) and progressed up to 4 months (72% decrease). The volume scan showed transient RNFL swelling in central and medial sectors at 3, 7, and 12 days followed by progressive significant thinning first observed at 21 days (central sector, 30%; medial sector, 40%) and 12 days (peripheral sector, 15%), respectively. Following IONT, Brn3a+ RGCs decreased to approximately 80%, 52%, 17%, 9%, 5%, 3%, and 2% at 3, 7, 12, 21 days, and at 1, 2, and 4 months, respectively. Retinal ganglion cell axon immunodetection decreased from 12 days onwards.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After IONT, RGC death is more severe and precedes thinning of the RNFL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery Universitá Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy 2Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murci.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rovere
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Nadal-Nicolás
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agudo-Barriuso
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sobrado-Calvo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nieto-López
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery Universitá Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nucci
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: María P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Villegas-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Oftalmología, Universidad de Murcia e Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria-Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vidal-Sanz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D016923:Cell Death; D002470:Cell Survival; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012162:Retinal Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D050819:Transcription Factor Brn-3A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D050819:Transcription Factor Brn-3A; C051774:neurofilament protein H