Objective To investigate the mRNA expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor on the retina during injury and repair of optic nerves in rats. Methods Thirty-five healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: 5 in the control group, 15 in the simply transected optic nerve group and 15 in the optic nerve-sciatic nerve anastomosis group. The simply transected and optic nerve-sciatic nerve anastomosed models were set up, and the retinal tissues of all of the rats were taken out after 3, 7 and 14 days, respectively; and the mRNA expression of CNTF in the 3 groups were observed by semiquantitative reversal transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. Results A minimum expression of CNTF mRNA was found in the retinae of the control group, and the increased rates of expression were found in the retinae of the simple transection of optic nerve group with the increase rate of 100%, 594%, and 485% on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day respectively after the operation, while in optic nerve-sciatic nerve anastomosis group, the increase rates were found to be 258%, 752% and 515% on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th day respectively after the operation. Conclusion Retinal neurons can respond to axonal reaction of retinal ganglion cells by up-regulate endogenous CNTF after the injury of the optic nerves, which may provide a theoretic base for the application of the exogenous CNTF. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：355-357)
ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on recuperate of optic nerve after contusion by clamping in adult rabbits. MethodsSixteen adult rabbits were randomly divided into NGF and the control group with 8 rabbits in each group. After the optic nerve of the right eyes was clamped，tissue engineering nerve containing 0.06 ml NGF（concentration: 5×10-4 g/L, NGF group） and 0.06 ml of PBS (control group) was immediately transplanted into the injured eyes respectively, and 0.02 ml NGF（concentration: 5×10-4 g/L, NGF group）and 0.02 ml of PBS (control group) were injected into the vitreous of right eyes respectively. Flash visual evoked potential (FVEP) test was performed on the eyes 1 day, 2 weeks and 8 weeks after the injury. The number of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and changes of optic nerves were observed by light microscopy and electron microscopy at the 8th week after contusion,and a computer-image-analysis system was used to count the optic nerve axons.ResultsThe ratio of amplitude of FVEP of the injured and healthy eyes was 0.765±0.150 in NGF group and 0.494±0.108 in the control at the 2th week after injury with a significant difference between the two groups (Plt;0.05); and was 0.581±0.138 and 0.409±0.119 respectively at the 8th week after contusion with statistical difference between the two groups (Plt;0.05). The results of light microscopy and electron microscopy showed that degeneration of RGCs and optic nerves in the NGF group was lighter than that in the control group 8 weeks after injury, while the amount of optic nerve axons was (10 955±608.7) axons/ mm2 in the NGF group and (7 898±608.8) axons/mm2 in the control with statistical difference between the two groups (Plt;0.05). ConclusionNGF may redound to the survival of RGCs and regeneration of the axons in some degree, which can promote the recuperation of optic nerve and visual function. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:253-257)
ObjectiveTo observe the protective effect of human umbilical cord blood stem cells (hUCBSC) transplantation on retinal ganglion cells (RGC) after optic nerve injury. Method48 adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into group A and B, therefore 24 rats in each group. Calibrated optic nerve crush injury model was induced in the left eyes, the right eyes served as a control. Medicine was injected at seventh day after optic nerve injury. PBS was injected into the eyes of Group A rats by peribulbar injection. The hUCBSCs were injected into the eyes of Group B rats by peribulbar injection. Seven days before sacrifice, 5% fluorogold was injected into superior colliculi bilaterally. At 7, 14, 21, 28 days after labeled, retinal flat mounts were observed under fluorescence microscope and optical microscope to investigate the morphological and RGC changes in density during retinal degeneration. ResultsThe RGC number showed a tendency to decline gradually along with increases of the time in two groups, but the trend of decrease of Group B was evidently slower than that of Group A. The RGC number of the injury eye were less than the control eye in Group A and B (t=3.24, 3.15; P < 0.05). At 7, 14, 21, 28 days after labeled, the RGC number (t=4.78, 4.70, 3.98, 3.27; P < 0.05) and labeled RGC rate (t=4.39, 4.21, 4.36, 5.07; P < 0.05) in group B were more than those in group A. After optic nerve injury, there was karyopycnosis on ganglion cell layer of retina, thinning on each layer of retina, derangement of cell and decrease in RGC. There was different degree of the above change in different time after optic nerve injury. There were the swelling, the hemorrhage, derangement of spongiocyte and the denaturation like vacuole in the spot of optic nerve injury. Moreover, they were aggravating with increases of the time after optic nerve injury. There was no pathological changes in normal eyes. ConclusionThe hUCBSC can increase the survival rate of the RGC and can rescue and(or) restore the injujed RGC after transplanted into body of optic nerve crush rat model by peribulbar injection.
ObjectiveTo investigate the gene expression spectrum of retina and optic nerve after partial injury of optic nerve.MethodsSixty SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups. The optic nerves of the right eyes were clipped for 6 seconds with a pair of crossaction forceps. The retinae and optic nerves in the operation eye and contralateral sham operation eye were removed 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after the injury to detect gene expression patterns with high-density DNA microarrays.ResultsChanges of a mass of gene expressions were found after the optic nerve injury, and the positive rate of gene expression was 2.35%, 6.48%, 3.82% and 4.09% after 3, 7, 14, 21 days, respectively, and the total positive rate was 11.77%. The functions of positive expression of the gene involved cell survival, cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix and cell adhesion, free radicals and oxidative damage, energy and metabolism, inflammation, neurotransmission and ion transport, signal transduction, structural protein, transcription and translation. Up-or down-regulation of repaired genes was the main part of the changes of gene expression, while the alteredexpression destroy genes was the minor part in the whole gene expression spectrum, in which the up- and down-regulation of expression of repaired genes accounted for 13.98% and 24.73% respectively 7 days after the injury, and the downregulation of expression of repaired genes accounted for 17.20% 14 days after the injury.ConclusionsA mass of gene expression changes occurs after the optic nerve injury, and the comprehensive view on the gene expression pattern following the optic nerve injury is crucial to discover the mechanism of post-injury reaction and regeneration.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:163-166)
Purpose To evaluate differences in the pattern of optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) damage in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and high-tension glaucoma (HTG) patients. Methods We enrolled 49 eyes of 49 patients:30 NTG (IOP≤21 mm Hg,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa), 19 HTG(IOP≥25 mm Hg). Mean age was 59.2±12.3 (range, 36-75) for HTG patients, and 59.6±8.6(range, 39-71) for NTG patients. All patients underwent complete ophthalmic examination, achromatic automated perimetry (AAP), scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), scanning laser polarimetry (SLP), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT). All patients had glaucomatous optic nerve damage and abnormal AAP. Results There were no differences in mean deviation on AAP between NTG and HTG eyes (P=0.37), while the corrected pattern standard deviation was larger in NTG than in HTG eyes (P=0.014). Cup∶disc area ratios in global (P=0.03) and three sectors (Plt;0.05) except nasal sector were significantly larger in the NTG group, whereas rim area in global (P=0.03) and three sectors (Plt;0.05) except nasal quadrant obtained by SLO were smaller in NTG than in HTG eyes. The other numerical parameters obtained by three imaging technologies could not detect differences in the optic disc or RNFL anatomy between the two groups. Conclusions Cup∶disc area ratio was larger in patients with NTG than in those with HTG, whereas significant thinning of rim was associated with NTG eyes. The measurement of retinal nerve layer thickness in global and each quadrant was similar between two groups. More focal or segmental analysis of the data contained within SLO, SLP and OCT images are needed to detect localized differences in eyes with varying levels of IOP. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 109-112)
Objective To evaluate the relevant factors affecting prognosis of traumatic optic neuropathy. Methods Sixty-nine patients with traumatic optic neuropathy were enrolled. Multiple variable analysis was done to filter the risk factors to prognosis in traumatic optic neuropathy. Results At 3 months or more of followup,no light perception was found in 32 cases (46.4%); visual acuity were increased by≥1 lines in 33 cases (47.8%). The outcome of visual acuity was poorer in patients with the following conditions:no light perception after trauma （P=0.0031）, loss of consciousness （P=0.0262）, no pretreated common-dosage corticosteroids （P=0.0184）, and absence of VEP （P=0.0001）. Conclusion The initial visual acuity of no light perception, loss of consciousness, and no pretreated common-dosage corticosteroids were the risk factors to prognosis in traumatic optic neuropathy,and result of VEP was an effective prognosis indicator in traumatic optic neuropathy. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 98-100)
Objective To evaluate the influence of the location of retinal vessel trunk on neuroretinal rim width of inferior and superior sectors of optic disc, and explore its role in the diagnosis of glaucomatous optic nerve lesion. Methods The photographs of ocular fundus from 459 patients with clear location of retinal vessel trunk, including large disc in 131, medium disc in 145, horizontally oval disc in 75, and small disc in 108 were evaluated. Independent-sample t test was used to compare the difference of the superior and inferior rim widths between the higher-vessel group and the lower-vessel group, and to compare the difference of superior and inferior vessel distances between the narrow-superior-rim-width group and the narrow inferior-rim-width group. Results In most of the patients, or the ones with large and small disc, the ratio of superior rim width to summation of superior and inferior rim widths in the higher-vessel group（0.467plusmn;0.051，0.445plusmn;0.040，0.508plusmn;0.056）were less than which in the lowervessel group（0.500plusmn;0.066，0.474plusmn;0.062，0.546plusmn;0.048）, and the differences were significant（P=0.000, 0.045, 0.018）; the ratio of superior vessel distance to summation of superior and inferior vessel distance in the narrow-superior-rim-width group（0.510plusmn;0.051，0.508plusmn;0.055，0.512plusmn;0.036）were less than which in the narrow-inferior-rim-width group（0.528plusmn;0.045，0.533plusmn;0.048，0.534plusmn;0.045）, and the differences were significant（P=0.000, 0.046, 0.022）. Conclusions The position of optic disc vessel trunk influences its superior and inferior rim width. The rim closer to vessel trunk position has narrower width than which comparatively far away from the position. In patients with large, medium, horizontally oval optic disc, glaucoma optic nerve lesion would be considered if the optic disc has the shape of narrower inferior rim, broader superior rim, and vessel location in the superior half of the disc. In the ones with small disc, the optic disc with the shape of narrower superior rim, broader inferior rim, and vessel location in the inferior half of the disc may suggest glaucoma optic nerve lesion. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2007, 23: 118-121)
The neuroretinal injuries of diabetic retinopathy (DR) include retinal neuronal damage and reactive gliosis, both of which are induced by hyperglycemia and presented as early features of DR. They promote to develop mutually and accelerate the progression of DR. The molecular mechanisms study of neuronal damage mainly focuses on the alterations of extracellular environment and related signaling pathways, include inflammation, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, the formation of advanced glycation end products, glutamate toxicity and so on. These alterations mainly result in neuronal apoptosis and autophagy. The damaged neurons activate the glial cells with apparent changes in morphology, cell counts and the level of intracellular protein expression. In non-proliferative DR, glial cells are moderately hypertrophic and slightly increased in numbers. In proliferative DR, there is a significant rise in glial cell number with enhanced level of inflammatory factors and vascular active substances which lead a further neuronal damage. Signaling pathways of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, c-Fos and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase are associated with their activation. Researches on the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of the DR will promote controlling the DR progression at the cellular level.
Ojective To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of surgical and nonsurgical treatment and the clinical factors affecting the efficacy in traumatic optic neuropathy. Methods To analyse retr ospectively the efficacy of recovery of visual acuity in 40 cases of traumatic optic neuropathy after treatment with transnasal endoscopic sphenoethmoidal optic canal decompression (28 cases) and drug therapy (12 cases). Results No significant difference existed between the therapeutic efficacy of surgery and that of drug therapy in patients with the visual acuity of LP～ 0.02. In surgery group,the therapeutic efficacy of the patients with visual acuity of LP～0.02 was better than that of the patients with no LP.The therapeu tic efficacy of patients with duration shorter than seven days before sutgery is better than that of patients with duration longer than seven days. Conclusions The patients with serious traumatic comperssive optic neuropathy should not be treated with decompressive surgery and should not delay to at most seven days after injury.With or without the visual acuity of light perception of the affected eye surgery is usually an important factor affecting the therapeutic efficacy. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:204-206)