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Axonal transport deficit in the optic nerve of rats with inherited retinitis pigmentosa and experimentally induced glaucoma

  • Retinal Disorders
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Abstract

Background

Aim of this study was to investigate the retrograde axonal transport from optic nerve (ON) to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) in two animal models: in Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats, a rat model for retinal degeneration, and in a rat model for glaucoma induced by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP).

Methods

To carry out this study, dextran tetramethylrhodamine (DTMR- an hydrophilic neurotracer dye) was injected into the ON; 24 hrs later, the retina was removed and the number of labeled RGCs of the experimental rats was counted and compared.

Results

The results of these studies showed that the number of fluorescent-labeled RGCs in RCS rats and in rats with elevated IOP was reduced compared to the number of labeled RGCs of their respective controls.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that RCS rats are characterized not only by loss of photoreceptor cells but also by functional deficits of RGCs.

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Acknowledgement

This study was supported by CNR to L. Aloe and by Grant N° RF-FGB-2005-150198 from Ministero della Salute and Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Roma, Italy

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Neurobiology, Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine, CNR, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 64/65, I-00143, Rome, Italy

    Valentina Sposato, Federica Sornelli & Luigi Aloe

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rome “Campus Bio-Medico”, Rome, Italy

    Alfonso Iovieno

Authors
  1. Valentina Sposato
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  2. Alfonso Iovieno
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  3. Federica Sornelli
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  4. Luigi Aloe
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luigi Aloe.

Additional information

Valentina Sposato and Alfonso Iovieno contributed equally to this work.

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Sposato, V., Iovieno, A., Sornelli, F. et al. Axonal transport deficit in the optic nerve of rats with inherited retinitis pigmentosa and experimentally induced glaucoma. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 246, 1553–1558 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-0903-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-0903-7

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