| Objective: To investigate the response of the neuron and glial cells following chronic optic nerve compression and the molecular mechanism of chronic optic nerve injury.Methods: The histological technique, axonal tracing, visual evoked potential recording and TUNEL were applied to examine the response of neuron and glial cells following chronic optic nerve compression. Subtractive suppression hybridization was introduced to clone the differential expression genes in the optic nerves at 4 week and 8 week after compression. These differential expression genes were selected to be sequenced and analyzed for homology using Blast program.Results: The FVEP was significantly changed and the TUNEL positive cells in retinas were found at 4 weeks after experiments. At 8 weeks, the number of retinal ganglion cells reduced and the TUNEL positive cells increased significantly. The optic nerve in compressed region presented axonal degeneration, glial cell death and blood vessel reduction. In the proximal portion of the compressed nerve were found the astrocyte proliferation and the microglia activation. Four-w and 8-w bidirectional subtractive libraries were established and 76 homology genes were found.Conclusion: The disturbance of visual function and secondary death of retinal ganglion cells occurred following chronic optic nerve compression. The glial cells changes, blood vessel injury and gene expression change in optic nerves may contribute to development and progress of chronic optic nerve injury.
|
PDF Full Text Request