Regeneration of rat optic axons into peripheral nerve grafts

Politis, Michael J.; Spencer, Peter S.

doi:10.1016/0014-4886(86)90025-7

Cited by 55 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…The results of the present study demonstrate that peripheral nerve bridges grafted to replace the optic nerve of adult rats (Aguayo, 1985;Vidal-Sam et al, 1987;Politis and Spencer, 1986;Berry et al, 1986;Thanos, 1988;Carter et al, 1989;Keirstead et al, 1989) can be used to guide regenerating retinal axons into proper visual centres (VidalSam et al, 1987;Carter et al, 1989;Thanos, 1988;Keirstead et a/. , 1989).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Previous studies of regenerative axonal growth as one of the posttraumatic responses in the adult retinofugal system have documented the intrinsic ability of ganglion cells to regrow their transected axons (David and Aguayo, 1981;Aguayo, 1985;Berry et al, 1986;Politis and Spencer, 1986;Vidal-Sam et al, 1987;So and Aguayo, 1985;Thanos, 1988;Carter et al, 1989;Keirstead et al, 1989). The experimental prerequisite necessary for axonal elongation is the replacement of the unfavourable optic nerve environment (see.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adult Retinofugal Axons Regenerating Through Peripheral Nerve Grafts Can Restore the Light‐induced Pupilloconstriction Reflex

Thanos

1992

Eur J of Neuroscience

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To investigate the ability of mature regenerating retinal axons to form functional connections within central targets, severed axons were guided into the primary visual centres which subserve the pupillary constriction reflex in response to light. The ocular stump of the transected optic nerve of adult rats was connected by means of an autologous peripheral nerve graft with the pretectal region which contains the relay nucleus of pupillary constriction, the olivary pretectal nucleus. This nucleus is efferently connected with preganglionic neurons in the oculomotor nuclear complex which innervates parasympathetically the muscle constrictors of the iris. Six to sixteen weeks after optic nerve transection and peripheral nerve transplantation, brisk responses were observed in the pupils upon illumination of the transplanted eye. Recovery of the pupil responses indicated that retinal neurons used the peripheral nerve 'bridge' to access the pretectum, in which they established synaptic contacts in sufficient density and with appropriate specificity to reconstitute the function of the traumatically interrupted neuronal circuitry.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult Retinofugal Axons Regenerating Through Peripheral Nerve Grafts Can Restore the Light‐induced Pupilloconstriction Reflex

Thanos

1992

Eur J of Neuroscience

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“…However, short extensions of RGC axons within the injured retina and into PN grafts attached to the optic nerve (Tello, 1907(Tello, , 1911Leoz Ortin and Arcaute, 19 14;Ramon y Cajal, 1914;Goldberg and Frank, 1980;McConnell and Berry, 1982) have been reported since early in this century in studies that used classical histologic methods. The present availability of microsurgical techniques, neuroanatomical tracers, and specific cell markers has made possible a more accurate assessment of the intrinsic capabilities of RGCs to initiate and support extensive axonal regrowth Stevenson, 1985;Vidal-Sanz et al, 1985, 1986Berry et al, 1986;Politis and Spencer, 1986;So et al, 1986). To investigate if such regenerating retinal axons could reach their normal targets and reform connections, we have now used transplanted et al * Axonal Regeneration by Retinal Ganglion Cel l s C' Figure 12.…”

Section: Responses Of Retinal Ganglion Cells To Nerve Graftmentioning

confidence: 99%

Axonal regeneration and synapse formation in the superior colliculus by retinal ganglion cells in the adult rat

Vidal‐Sanz¹,

Bray²,

et al. 1987

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In adult rats, one optic nerve was transected and replaced by a 4 cm segment of autologous peripheral nerve (PN) that linked one eye and the superior colliculus (SC) along a predominantly extracranial course. Retrograde and orthograde studies with the tracers HRP or rhodamine-B- isothiocyanate (RITC), as well as immunocytochemical neuronal labels, indicated the following: (1) Regenerating axons from the axotomized retinal ganglion cells extended along the entire PN grafts, covering a distance nearly twice that of the normal retinotectal projection of intact rats. (2) Some of these axons penetrated the SC and formed terminal arborizations up to 500 microns from the end of the graft. (3) By electron microscopy, the arborizations of these regenerated axons in the SC were seen as small HRP-labeled axonal profiles that contacted neuronal processes in the SC; some of these contacts showed pre- and postsynaptic membrane specializations. These findings indicate that injured retinal ganglion cells in the adult rat are not only able to regrow lengthy axons, but may also form synapses in the SC.

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“…Several studies have documented the intrinsic ability of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) of adult rodents to respond to injury with formation of a growth cone and to elongate within the permissive and supporting environment of a grafted piece of an autologous peripheral nerve (PN) (Aguayo, 1985;So and Aguayo, 1985;Berry et al, 1986;Politis and Spencer, 1986;Vidal-Sanz et al, 1987;Thanos, 1988;Carter et al, 1989;Keirstead et al, 1989;Thanos et al, 1993). The PN pieces subserve at least three relevant functions: (1) They provide a permissive biological substrate for axonal growth (Aguayo, 1985).…”

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confidence: 99%

Type-specific stabilization and target-dependent survival of regenerating ganglion cells in the retina of adult rats

Thanos

Mey

1995

J. Neurosci.

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Axotomy-induced degradation of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) can be delayed if the destructive features of activated microglial cells are pharmacologically neutralized, and prevented if the axons are permitted to regrow into transplanted autologous peripheral nerve (PN) pieces. This study was undertaken to classify the regenerating rat RGC and to examine target-dependent effects on survival of subsets of neurons. In analogy to the normal rat retina, we have categorized the retrogradely labeled, regenerating RGC into five classes which are morphologically distinct and reminiscent of normal RGC correlates (types I, II, III, delta-cells, and displaced RGC). Six weeks after transplantation of peripheral nerve to the transected optic nerve, large, type I-like cells (RI) constituted 5.7 +/- 2.0% of the total population. Smaller, round to oval cells of type RII represented the majority of labeled neurons (64.5 +/- 6.1%). Cells of type RIII constituted 4.6 +/- 1.7% of the total population and had very typical, middlesized, polarized perikarya and large dendrites. Less frequent (< 1%) were R-delta and displaced RGC. Transplantation of a PN graft which was not reconnected with a central target (blind-ending group) and monitoring of the extant neurons showed a progressive disappearance of the regenerating RGC, such that 6 months after surgery predominantly few large cells survived. When the retinas were treated with macrophage/microglia- inhibiting factor (MIF), and the regenerating axons were guided into the pretectum, predominantly large RGC of type RI survived. Guidance of the axons into their major natural target, the superior colliculus (SC), resulted in selective survival of many small, RII-like RGC. Calculation of the dendritic coverage factors for the major types of RGC revealed that dendrites of the most abundant small cells of type RII overlapped uniformly and covered the retinal surface completely, whereas cells of types RI and RIII did not suffice for surface coverage. The results suggest that combined suppression of axotomy- induced microglial activation and guidance of regenerating axons with a PN graft into central targets is a suitable technique to produce sufficient numbers of regenerating axons which may retrieve some functional properties. Target-specific neuronal contacts are likely involved in morphological stabilization and better survival of regenerating neurons.

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Regeneration of rat optic axons into peripheral nerve grafts

Cited by 55 publications

References 6 publications

Adult Retinofugal Axons Regenerating Through Peripheral Nerve Grafts Can Restore the Light‐induced Pupilloconstriction Reflex

Adult Retinofugal Axons Regenerating Through Peripheral Nerve Grafts Can Restore the Light‐induced Pupilloconstriction Reflex

Axonal regeneration and synapse formation in the superior colliculus by retinal ganglion cells in the adult rat

Type-specific stabilization and target-dependent survival of regenerating ganglion cells in the retina of adult rats

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