Experimental Optic Nerve Atrophy in Rabbits.

Chang, Bong Leen

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 1978;19(4):441-445.
Published online April 1, 1978.

Experimental Optic Nerve Atrophy in Rabbits.

Bong Leen Chang

Department of Ophthalmology, Seoul National University Hospital. Seoul, Korea.

시신경 위축에 관한 연구

장봉린 ( Bong Leen Chang )

Abstract

After general anesthesia with intra-venous pentothal sodium, half of the optic nerve was sectioned on both sides with special care to preserve vessels of the optic nerve. To observe retrograde degeneration of the optic nerve, the animals were sacrifised 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks after nene section. Eye ball and optic nerve was removed and fixed in 10% formalin solution. Eye baIl and optic nerve was cut and stained with Hematoxylin Eosin and Luxol Fast Blue stain for light microscopic examination. Until 2 weeks. no significant pathologic changes were observed. Specimens 3 weeks after optic nerve section showed decreased retinal ganglion cell numbers and gliosis and myelin loss in optic nerve and these changes were intensified on 4th and 5th weeks specimens. So, I observed the followings: 1. Retrograde degeneration of the optic nerve occurred simultaneously through out the length of the nerve fibers instead progressively from the cut end toward the ganglion cell. 2. The retrograde degeneration of the optic nerve started 3 weeks after section.