J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1978 Dec;19(4):441-445.

Experimental Optic Nerve Atrophy in Rabbits

• Chang BL

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.

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Animals
Atrophy*
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Formaldehyde
Ganglion Cysts
Gliosis
Hematoxylin
Myelin Sheath
Nerve Fibers
Optic Nerve*
Rabbits*
Retinal Ganglion Cells
Retrograde Degeneration
Sodium
Thiopental
Eosine Yellowish-(YS)
Formaldehyde
Hematoxylin
Sodium
Thiopental