Intravitreal injections of neurotrophic factors support the survival of axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult rats in vivo

Degeneration and regeneration of ganglion cell axons

The retino-tectal system has been used to study developmental aspects of axon growth, synapse formation and the establishment of a precise topographic order as well as degeneration and regeneration of adult retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons after axonal lesion. This paper reviews some novel findings that provide new insights into the mechanisms of developmental RGC axon growth, pathfinding, and target formation. It also focuses on the cellular and molecular cascades that underlie RGC degeneration following an axonal lesion and on some therapeutic strategies to enhance survival of axotomized RGCs in vivo. In addition, this review deals with problems related to the induction of regeneration after axonal lesion in the adult CNS using the retino-tectal system as model. Different therapeutic approaches to promote RGC regeneration and requirements for specific target formation of regenerating RGCs in vitro and in vivo are discussed.

Death and neuroprotection of retinal ganglion cells after different types of injury

In adult Sprague-Dawley rats, retinal ganglion cell survival was investigated after intraorbital optic nerve section and after transient ischemia of the retina induced by elevation of the intraocular pressure or by selective ligature of the ophthalmic vessels. The thickness of the inner nuclear and inner plexiform layers was also assessed after transient periods (120 min) of retinal ischemia induced by selective ligature of the ophthalmic vessels. In addition, we have also investigated the neuroprotective effects of different substances in these paradigms. The intraocular injection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor increased RGC survival after retinal ischemia induced by elevation of the intraocular pressure or by selective ligature of the ophthalmic vessels. The caspase-inhibitor Z-DEVD increased retinal ganglion cell survival after optic nerve section and also after 90 min of retinal ischemia induced by selective ligature of the ophthalmic vessels. The peptide Bcl-2 did not increase retinal ganglion cell survival after optic nerve section but increased retinal ganglion cell survival after 60 or 90 min of retinal ischemia induced by selective ligature of the ophthalmic vessels. Finally, BDNF, nifedipine, naloxone and bcl-2 prevented in part the decrease in thickness of the inner nuclear layer and inner plexiform layer induced by selective ligature of the ophthalmic vessels. Our results suggest that retinal ganglion cell loss induced by different types of injury, may be prevented by substances with neuroprotective effects, by altering steps of the cascade of events leading to cell death.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor promotes the regrowth capacity but not the survival of intraorbitally axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult hamsters

Ciliary neurotrophic factor has recently been shown to promote the axonal regrowth of retinal ganglion cells into a peripheral nerve graft following an intracranial transection of the optic nerve (approximately 7 mm from the optic disc). It is unclear whether the enhancement of axonal regrowth by ciliary neurotrophic factor application correlates with the enhancement of survival of retinal ganglion cells and/or the up-regulation of expression of growth-associated protein-43 messenger RNA in retinas. The present study evaluated the regenerative capacity of retinal ganglion cells following intraorbital transection of the optic nerve (approximately 1.5 mm from the optic disc) and the attachment of a peripheral nerve to the ocular stump of the optic nerve. In addition, we have determined the survival of retinal ganglion cells and the expression of growth-associated protein-43 messenger RNA in ciliary neurotrophic factor-treated retinas following optic nerve transection. The results showed that in the ciliary neurotrophic factor-treated retinas, the number of retinal ganglion cells which had regrown axons into a peripheral nerve is about four times more than the control. In the axotomized retinas, ciliary neurotrophic factor initiated sprouting of axon-like processes at 14 and 28 days post-axotomy and up-regulated the expression level of growth-associated protein-43 messenger RNA at 7, 14 and 28 days post-axotomy. However, ciliary neurotrophic factor did not prevent the death of axotomized retinal ganglion cells. We suggest that one possible mechanism for the axonal regeneration of axotomized retinal ganglion cells by ciliary neurotrophic factor could be mediated by the up-regulation of growth-associated protein-43 gene expression and not by increasing the pool of surviving retinal ganglion cells after axotomy.

The occurrence of apoptosis during retinal regeneration in adult newts

The present study examined the occurrence of apoptosis, identified by an in situ technique for detecting DNA fragmentation, in the regenerating retina of adult newts following ablation of the retina. Apoptosis occurs in the initial phase of regeneration when retinal precursor cells are actively proliferating. In the late stage of regeneration, when two synaptic layers are forming, apoptosis occurs mainly in the ganglion cell layer and inner nuclear layer. We found that apoptosis occurred with proliferation, differentiation, formation of retinal layers and retinotectal projections during retinal regeneration. Our findings suggest that apoptosis is closely related to these phenomena.

Both the neuronal and inducible isoforms contribute to upregulation of retinal nitric oxide synthase activity by brain-derived neurotrophic factor

Although neurotrophins are best known for their trophic functions, growing evidence suggests that neurotrophins can also be neurotoxic, for instance by enhancing excitotoxic insults. We have shown recently that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) limits its neuroprotective action on axotomized rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) by upregulating nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity (Klöcker et al., 1998). The aim of the present study was to investigate this interaction of BDNF and NOS in the lesioned adult rat retina in more detail. We used NOS immunohistochemistry and NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) reaction to characterize morphologically retinal NOS expression and activity. Using reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot analysis, we were able to identify the NOS isoforms being regulated. Six days after optic nerve lesion, we observed an increase in neuronal NOS (NOS-I) mRNA and protein expression in the inner retina. This did not lead to a marked increase in overall retinal NOS activity. Only RGC axons displayed strong de novo NADPH-d reactivity. In contrast, intraocular injection of BDNF resulted in a marked upregulation of NOS activity in NOS-I-immunoreactive structures, leaving the level of NOS-I expression unchanged. In addition, an induction of inducible NOS (NOS-II) was found after BDNF treatment. We identified microglial cells increasing in number and being activated by BDNF, which could serve as the cellular source of NOS-II. In summary, our data suggest that BDNF upregulates retinal NOS activity by both a post-translational regulation of NOS-I activity and an induction of NOS-II. These findings might be useful for developing pharmacological strategies to improve BDNF-mediated neuroprotection.

Long-term effect of inhibition of ced 3-like caspases on the survival of axotomized retinal ganglion cells in vivo

There is growing evidence that caspase inhibition exerts neuroprotective effects in various models of neuronal injury in vivo. However, whether caspase inhibition provides long-term neuroprotection is not known yet. In the present study, we therefore investigated the effects of prolonged caspase inhibition on the survival of adult rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) following optic nerve (ON) transection. Four weeks following ON transection the number of surviving RGCs in untreated animals declined to 11% of controls. Treatment for the initial 2 weeks with z-DEVD-cmk, an irreversible inhibitor of ced 3-like caspases, increased the number of surviving RGCs 4 weeks postlesion to 24%. Z-DEVD-cmk treatment over the entire experimental period of 4 weeks had no additional effect. Thus, we still found a neuroprotective effect of caspase inhibition on axotomized RGCs after extended survival time. However, in comparison to our recent observations 2 weeks after optic nerve transection, in which z-DEVD-cmk rescued 46% of RGCs (P. Kermer, N. Klöcker, M. Labes, and M. Bähr, 1998, J. Neurosci. 18(12), 4656-4662) the positive effect clearly decreased. In conclusion, our results indicate that the therapeutical approach presented here results in a significant delay of secondary death rather than providing a permanent and complete rescue of axotomized RGCs.

Activation of caspase-3 in axotomized rat retinal ganglion cells in vivo

Recently, we have shown that inhibition of caspase-3-like caspases is the most effective treatment strategy to protect adult rat retinal ganglion cells from secondary death following optic nerve transection. In the present study, we localized active caspase-3 in axotomized retinal ganglion cells in vivo and demonstrated a co-localization of the active p20 fragment and TUNEL-staining in some of these cells. In line with this, we detected an enhanced cleavage and activity of caspase-3 protein in retinal tissue after lesion, while caspase-3 mRNA expression remained unchanged. These data suggest caspase-3 as an important mediator of secondary retinal ganglion cell death following axotomy in vivo.

Characterization of the cell death promoter, Bad, in the developing rat retina and forebrain

Neuronal programmed cell death, or apoptosis, occurs during development, following injury or in certain disease processes, and is regulated by members of the B-cell leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) protein family. These molecules include both positive and negative regulators of cell death and act by selective dimerization that results in permissive or inhibitory effects on a cascade of cellular events, including mitochondrial release of cytochrome c, stimulation of cysteine protease activity and subsequent cellular deterioration. Here, we have characterized the expression of the cell death agonist, Bad, in the postnatal rat retina and forebrain. Isolation, subsequent amplification by RT-PCR and DNA sequence analysis revealed that retinal Bad was identical to Bad expressed in the developing and adult rat brain. Using a polyclonal antibody to Bad, we determined that, in the retina, on the day of birth (postnatal day-0, PND-0) Bad immunoreactivity was expressed primarily by retinal ganglion cells, some cells in the inner neuroblastic layer (NBL) and an indistinct plexus of processes in the inner plexiform layer (IPL). On PND-7, Bad immunoreactivity was observed in most cells in the ganglion cell layer (GCL), numerous cells scattered throughout the inner nuclear layer (INL), a lightly stained IPL and in a distinct band of immunostained fibers in the forming outer plexiform layer (OPL). By PND-15, Bad immunoreactivity was present in cells in the GCL, in some cells in the proximal INL and in horizontal cell processes in the OPL. The IPL was only faintly labeled. In the adult retina, specific Bad immunostaining was confined to large cells in the ganglion cell layer (presumed ganglion cells), occasional lightly stained horizontal cells and their processes in the OPL and to occasional small, lightly stained cells in the proximal INL (presumed amacrine cells) and GCL (presumed displaced amacrine cells). Again, the interposed IPL was faintly labeled. In the brain, Bad immunoreactive cells were scattered throughout the forebrain parenchyma but were particularly concentrated in neurons of the cerebral cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. Bad immunoreactivity was heaviest in these cells at PND-7, distinctly weaker at PND-10 and absent by PND-24. At all time points examined, Bad immunoreactivity was present in epithelial cells of the choroid plexus, as previously reported in the adult rat brain. These data suggest that Bad is transiently expressed by various cell types in the perinatal retina, particularly ganglion cells, and in discrete forebrain regions. In the context of corroborative observations, Bad expression may be regulated in response to acute ischemia and may act as a control point for retinal neuronal apoptosis.

Retinal ganglion cells lose trophic responsiveness after axotomy

Whereas PNS neurons in culture are intrinsically responsive to peptide trophic factors, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are not unless they are depolarized, or their intracellular levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP) are elevated. We show here that depolarization increases cAMP in cultured RGCs sufficiently to enhance their responsiveness and that the trophic responsiveness of developing RGCs in intact retinas depends on physiological levels of activity and cAMP elevation. Responsiveness is lost after axotomy but is restored by cAMP elevation. The death of axotomized RGCs can be prevented if they are simultaneously stimulated by several trophic factors together with cAMP elevation. Thus, the death of RGCs after axotomy is not caused solely by the loss of retrograde trophic stimuli but also by a profound loss of trophic responsiveness.

Neuroprotection in relation to retinal ischemia and relevance to glaucoma

Management of glaucoma is directed at the control of intraocular pressure (IOP), yet it is recognized now that increased IOP isjust an important risk factor in glaucoma. Therapy that prevents the death of ganglion cells is the main goal of treatment, but an understanding of the causes of ganglion cell death and precisely how it occurs remains speculative. Present information supports the working hypothesis that ganglion cell death may result from a particular form of ischemia. Support for this view comes from the fact that not all types of retinal ischemia lead to the pathologic findings seen in glaucomatous retinas or to cupping in the optic disk area. Moreover, in animal experiments in which ischemia is caused by elevated IOP, a retinal abnormality similar to that seen in true glaucoma is produced, whereas after occlusion of the carotid arteries a different pattern of damage is found. In ischemia, glutamate is released, and this initiates the death of neurons that contain ionotropic glutamate (NMDA) receptors. Elevated glutamate levels exist in the vitreous humor of patients with glaucoma, and NMDA receptors exist on ganglion cells and a subset of amacrine cells. Experimental studies have shown that a variety of agents can be used to prevent the death of retinal neurons (particularly ganglion cells) induced by ischemia. These agents are generally those that block NMDA receptors to prevent the action of the released glutamate or substances that interfere with the subsequent cycle of events that lead to cell death. The major causes of cell death after activation of NMDA receptors are the influx of calcium into cells and the generation of free radicals. Substances that prevent this cascade of events are, therefore, often found to act as neuroprotective agents. For a substance to have a role as a neuroprotective agent in glaucoma, it would ideally be delivered topically to the eye and used repeatedly. It is, therefore, of interest that betaxolol, a beta-blocker presently used to reduce IOP in humans, also has calcium channel-blocking functions. Moreover, experimental studies show that betaxolol is an efficient neuro protective agent against retinal ischemia in animals, when injected directly into the eye or intraperitoneally.

Synergistic effect of optic and peripheral nerve grafts on sprouting of axon-like processes of axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult hamsters

We investigated the sprouting response of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) following the transplantation of peripheral nerve (PN) and/or optic nerve (ON) into the vitreous of the eye and the intraorbital transection of the optic nerve in hamsters. Our previous results showed that an intravitreal PN graft could induce sprouting of axon-like processes in axotomized RGCS [3] (Cho, E.Y. and So, K.F., Characterization of the sprouting response of axon-like processes from retinal ganglion cells after axotomy in adult hamsters: a model using intravitreal implantation of a peripheral nerve, J. Neurocytol., 21 (1992) 589-603). In this model, we have examined the effect of intravitreal ON graft on the sprouting of RGCs both following a co-transplantation of PN and ON into the vitreous and transplantation of ON alone. The present results show that sprouting is increased by more than two-fold in retinas having PN and ON grafts than a PN graft alone. However, the ON graft by itself rarely induced sprouting in RGCs. These results suggest that the ON graft enhance the number of RGCs to sprout axon-like processes in the presence of PN graft by exerting a synergistic rather than an additive effect, since ON graft alone did not induce sprouting. In addition, no diffusible inhibitory effect of ON graft on PN induced sprouting was observed.

Caspase inhibitors block the retinal ganglion cell death following optic nerve transection

Retinal ganglion cells die by apoptosis following axotomy. The molecular mechanisms of the retinal ganglion cell death are not well understood. In the present study using RT-PCR and in situ hybridization techniques we demonstrated that levels of mRNA for Bcl-2 and Bcl-x decreased after axotomy. Bax levels remained high until 4 days after axotomy, decreased by day 7 and remained low up to day 10. CPP32 levels increased at day 7 and remained high after optic nerve cut. We studied whether inhibitors of CPP32/caspase would save the axotomy induced ganglion cell death. DEVD-CHO (Ac-Asp-Glu-Val-aspartic acid aldehyde) and DEVD-FMK (Z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-FMK), caspase inhibitors, when administered intraocularly at the time of optic nerve cut, at days 3 and 7 protect about 30-35% the ganglion cells from death. We further demonstrated that the number of reactive microglia decrease in the retina when the inhibitors were given as compared with retina where no inhibitors were given. The present data offers new avenues for studying the complex interactions between the retinal ganglion cell death and the activation of resident microglia/macrophages.

Management of hereditary retinal degenerations: present status and future directions

Research on hereditary retinal degenerations has considerably improved our understanding of these disorders, although much remains to be learned about the exact mechanism involved in the pathogenesis. The advent of recombinant DNA technology will refine diagnostic capabilities, which have so far been based on the manifestations of the disease to localization of the molecular defects. The correlation of the molecular defects with the phenotype of the disease will result in better prognostic counseling for patients. In certain forms of retinitis pigmentosa, such as Refsum disease, gyrate atrophy of the choroid and retina, and abetalipoproteinemia, exact biochemical defects have been identified and specific treatments have been applied with some success. In other forms of retinitis pigmentosa, various investigations have suggested the possibilities of arresting the progress of degeneration by means such as the use of growth factors and controlling apoptosis. Efforts to alter the expression of the mutated gene or to introduce a normal gene into the genome are in their infancy, but results are encouraging. Vitamin A has been tried in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, and the results demonstrate statistically significant beneficial effects of this vitamin, suggesting that the course of the disease can be decelerated to some extent. Another interesting research area with potential for therapeutic application is the replacement of the retinal pigment epithelium or the degenerated neural retina by transplantation of the respective cell types. Clinical trials are being conducted both with retinal pigment epithelium and neuroretinal transplants.

Apoptosis in developing retinal tissue

The mechanisms of apoptosis are strongly dependent on cell-cell interactions typical of organized tissues. Experimental studies of apoptosis using a histotypical preparation of retinal explants are reported in the present article. We found that various characteristics of apoptosis are selectively associated with retinal cell death depending on cell type, stage of maturation, and means of induction of apoptosis. Among these were: (1) the requirements of protein synthesis; (2) the role of cAMP; (3) the expression of certain apoptosis-associated proteins; and (4) the sensitivity to excitotoxicity, modulation of protein phosphatases and calcium mobilization. Dividing cells undergo apoptosis in response to several inducers in specific phases of the cell cycle, and in distinct regions within their pathway of interkinetic nuclear migration. Recent post-mitotic cells are selectively sensitive to apoptosis induced by blockade of protein synthesis, while both proliferating and differentiated cells are more resistant. We also studied the association of several proteins, some of which play critical roles in the cell cycle, with both differentiation and apoptosis in the retinal tissue. Detection of cell cycle markers did not support the hypothesis that retinal cells re-enter the cell cycle on their pathway to apoptosis, although some proteins associated with cell proliferation re-appeared in degenerating cells. The transcription factors c-Jun, c-Fos and c-Myc were found associated with apoptosis in retinal cells, but their sub-cellular location in apoptotic bodies is not consistent with their canonical functions in the control of gene expression. The bifunctional redox factor/AP endonuclease Ref-1 and the transcription factor Max are associated with progressive cell differentiation, and both are down-regulated during cell death in the retina. The data suggest that Ref-1 and Max may normally function as negative modulators of retinal apoptosis. The results indicate that nuclear exclusion of transcription factors and other important control proteins is a hallmark of retinal apoptosis. Histotypical explants may be a choice preparation for the experimental analysis of the mechanisms of apoptosis, in the context both of cell-cell interactions and of the dynamic behavior of developing cells within the organized retinal tissue.

Ciliary neurotrophic factor is an axogenesis factor for retinal ganglion cells

Although mature mammalian retinal ganglion cells normally fail to regrow injured axons, exposure to the molecular environment of the peripheral nervous system stimulates regenerative growth. The present study used dissociated rat retinal ganglion cells purified by immunopanning to identify peripheral nervous system-derived factors that promote axonal outgrowth. Of the multiple growth factors investigated, only ciliary neurotrophic factor and the related cytokine, leukemia inhibitory factor, had striking neuritogenic activity, with half-maximal effects at 1-2 ng/ml. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor stimulated retinal ganglion cell survival nearly as well as ciliary neurotrophic factor, but had only minor effects on outgrowth. Thus, the neuritogenic effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor are not a simple consequence of increased survival. Ciliary neurotrophic factor-stimulated outgrowth was correlated with increased expression of the growth-associated membrane phosphoprotein, GAP-43, a hallmark of optic nerve regeneration in vivo. A high molecular weight fraction from media conditioned by rat optic or sciatic nerve mimicked the effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor in inducing axonal outgrowth. Ciliary neurotrophic factor was detected in the conditioned media on western blots, and the biological activity of the conditioned media was neutralized with an anti-ciliary neurotrophic factor antibody. These results indicate that ciliary neurotrophic factor has specific effects on axon outgrowth in retinal ganglion cells that are dissociable from its effects on cell survival, and that ciliary neurotrophic factor accounts for most of the axon-promoting activity for retinal ganglion cells present in either the sciatic or optic nerve.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) promotes the survival of axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult rats: comparison to and combination with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)

Adult rat retinal ganglion cells (RGC) undergo degeneration after optic nerve transection. Studies have shown that exogenously applied neurotrophic factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can attenuate axotomy-induced as well as developmental RGC death. Here, we examined whether glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a known neurotrophic factor for dopaminergic neurons and motor neurons, could provide neurotrophic support to RGC in adult rats. We determined whether RGC could retrogradely transport GDNF from their target tissue. After injection into the superior colliculus of adult rats, 125I-GDNF was retrogradely transported to contralateral eyes but not to ipsilateral eyes. The transport of 125I-GDNF could be blocked by coinjection of excess unlabeled GDNF, indicating that it was receptor mediated. We tested whether intravitreally applied GDNF could prevent axotomy-induced RGC degeneration. The RGC were prelabeled with Fluorogold (FG) and axotomized by intraorbital optic nerve transection. GDNF, BDNF (positive control), cytochrome c (negative control), or a GDNF/BDNF combination was injected intravitreally on days 0 and 7. On day 14, FG-labeled RGC were counted from whole-mount retinas. We found that, similar to BDNF, GDNF could significantly attenuate the degeneration of RGC in a dose-dependent fashion. Furthermore, the combination treatment of GDNF and BDNF showed better protection than either factor used individually. Our data indicate that GDNF is a neurotrophic factor for the adult rat RGC. GDNF, like BDNF, may be useful for the treatment of human RGC degenerative diseases.

Neurotrophins and their receptors in the tench retina during optic nerve regeneration

To understand the role of neurotrophins in the visual system, we investigated the distribution of both neurotrophins and their receptors within the retina of a fish that has the capacity to spontaneously regenerate its optic nerve axons after lesion. Intact retinas and retinas from tench, whose optic nerve had been crushed, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Trk receptors were mainly immunolocalized in cells of the inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers, a distribution coincident with that of their mRNAs. Nerve growth factor (NGF) immunoreactivity was detected exclusively in Müller cell processes, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was found in both neuronal bodies and Müller cell processes. Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) was detected in most of the cell nuclei, and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) was localized in fibers and in a few cells in the inner retina. An increase in both TrkA protein and mRNA was detected during axonal regeneration within the retinal ganglion cell layer, reaching a maximum 30 days postcrush and returning to normal levels by day 90, when optic nerve regeneration is almost completed in this fish. None of the other neurotrophins and receptors showed appreciable changes. The heterogeneous distribution patterns of neurotrophins and their receptors in fish retina, their differences from the distribution observed in other species, and the TrkA changes after optic nerve crush suggest an important role for these molecules in the normal physiology of the fish retina and during the regeneration process.

Expression of CNTF in Müller cells of the rat retina after pressure-induced ischemia

We have investigated the expression and cellular localization of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in the rat retina following ischemia induced by transiently increasing the intraocular pressure. In the normal retina, CNTF immunoreactivity was restricted to profiles in the ganglion cell layer. Following ischemia and reperfusion, immunoreactivity appeared in Müller cell somata and processes and its intensity increased between 1 day and 2 weeks post-lesion. Quantitative evaluation by immunoblotting confirmed that CNTF expression continuously increased up to 2 weeks after ischemic injury (to 600% of control levels), but had declined again to 250% of controls at 4 weeks post-lesion. Our findings suggest that CNTF supplied by Müller cells has a protective function for lesioned neurons following transient ischemia.

Unilateral injury to the adult rat optic nerve causes multiple cellular responses in the contralateral site

This study was undertaken to examine whether unilateral injury to one optic nerve (ON) elicits a response in the microglia, neuroglia and ganglion cells of the retina and ON of the contralateral site as well. Bilateral activation of the transcription factor c-jun could be immunohistochemically detected in the ganglion cell layer 2 days after crush and later. Microglial cells were detected with the activation-specific antibodies MUC 102 and OX-42. They showed an immediate and clear pattern of activation within the contralateral ON and retina, although this response was less pronounced than in the directly lesioned site. Astrocytes and Müller cells showed a typical up-regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the lesioned retina and only focal but virtually no generalized up-regulation in the contralateral eye. Ganglion cells whose axons had been crushed responded with vigorous axonal growth after 2 days in culture, in addition to exhibiting in situ reactions. However, ganglion cells of the contralateral retina responded with a moderate regeneration, too. Growth was less pronounced than in the crushed retina but significantly better than in retinas on untreated animals. The results suggest that unilateral lesion of the optic nerve elicits a defined response in the major cell types of the contralateral retinofugal system. The findings suggest that it is advisable to maintain caution in the use of the contralateral optic nerve and retina as a control in experiments dealing with cellular processes of de- and regeneration.

Intraocular gene transfer of ciliary neurotrophic factor prevents death and increases responsiveness of rod photoreceptors in the retinal degeneration slow mouse

Several mutations causing both photoreceptor degeneration and malfunction have been identified in humans and animals. Although intraocular injection of trophic factors has been shown to reduce photoreceptor death in a few conditions of rapid photoreceptor loss, it is unclear whether long-term beneficial changes in functional properties of affected photoreceptors can be obtained by treatment with these factors. The rds/rds mouse is a spontaneous mutant bearing a null mutation in the rds/peripherin gene, which is linked to many forms of dominant retinal degenerations in humans. Here, we report that intraocular adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in this mutant reduces photoreceptor loss, causes a significant increase in the length of photoreceptor segments, and results in a redistribution and an increase in the retinal content of the photopigment rhodopsin. These effects are accompanied by a significant increase in the amplitude of the a- and b-waves of the scotopic electroretinogram. These results suggest that continuous administration of CNTF could potentially be useful for the treatment of some forms of retinal degeneration.

Photoreceptor rescue

Photoreceptor cell death is the final, irreversible event in many blinding diseases including retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular disease and retinal detachment. This paper examines the potential strategies for preventing photoreceptor cell death in the context of current understanding of the mechanisms of cell death. There is evidence to suggest that photoreceptor cells are inherently vulnerable, apoptosis is the final common pathway of photoreceptor cell loss, and other retinal cells play an important role in the survival of rods and cones. Furthermore, the rationale of using neurotrophic factors as therapeutic agents in retinal degeneration is discussed in detail. Photoreceptor rescue by manipulation of genes involved in apoptosis and some pharmacological agents is also described.

Rescue of retinal ganglion cells from axotomy-induced apoptosis through TRK oncogene transfer

Following axonal injury, central neurons die through programmed cell death. Modification of intracellular mechanisms through specific gene transfer might provide a mechanism for survival. Here we present rescue of rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) through gene transfer of TRK oncogenes. Administration of plasmid DNA at the optic axon terminals in the superior colliculus results in retrograde transport to their soma and significant expression of the exogenous DNA. Using this approach for transfection, a TRK oncogene containing plasmid was introduced in RGCs. Three days after plasmid injection, optic nerves were transected. TRK oncogene transfection induced extended survival of the axotomized neurons, lasting over 10 days. Gene delivery to specific cell types is an initial step in the development of therapeutic strategies for regeneration of the damaged nervous system.

Platelet-derived growth factor B-chain expression in the rat retina and optic nerve: distribution and changes after transection of the optic nerve

To test the possible involvement of platelet-derived growth factor B-chain (PDGF-B) in anterograde and retrograde degenerations of the CNS neurons, we studied the changes of PDGF-B localization and its mRNA expression in the rat retina and optic nerve (ON) after unilateral ON transection, using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. In the control retinas immunoreactivity for PDGF-B and its mRNA expression were localized in the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and the nerve fiber layer. After ON transection PDGF-B immunoreactivity in the nerve fiber layer started to decrease on post-injury day 3 or 4. Atrophic changes in the RGCs started on day 5 just after the decrease of PDGF expression, and thereafter the RGC number decreased. In the longitudinal section of the ON rostral to the transected site, swollen axons showed intense PDGF-B immunoreactivity and macrophages, and some glial cells revealed a significant increase in both immunoreactivity and hybridization signals. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that the decrease in PDGF-B in RGCs after axotomy causes the loss of RGCs, and that increased PDGF-B expression in the ON plays a role in the cascade of tissue reactions following ON transection.

Combined methods of retrograde staining, layer-separation and viscoelastic cell stabilization to isolate retinal ganglion cells in adult rats

The adult retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are widely used as a model to study mechanisms of de- and regeneration within the central nervous system (CNS). All regions of the CNS including the retina have the common disadvantage of being composed of heterogeneous populations of cells, many of them like RGCs making less than 1% of the total population. This disadvantage can be circumvented by methodologies aimed at purifying specific cell types. Here we describe a method that combines retrograde labelling with fluorescent dyes and the pull-off technique. By using either of four different fluorescent dyes to retrogradely label RGCs, between 55 and 80% of pre-labelled ganglion cells could be identified with fluorescence microscopy. The pull-off procedure was supplemented by enhancing the viscosity of the collecting medium with methylhydroxypropyl-cellulose (MHPC). It appeared that 45% of all RGCs could be collected in the medium containing MHPC as compared to about 19% of RGCs which could be collected in medium devoid of cellulose. Despite the fact that morphometric measurements indicated that 60% of the cells collected fulfilled the criteria of being RGCs, the population obtained was immensely enriched and sufficed to perform a two dimensional SDS-gel electrophoresis and to determine their protein composition. The collected RGCs displayed a similar protein pattern as compared to that of the total retina, indicating that sublayers of the retina were represented in the probe. The results suggest that combined approaches of in vivo staining and ex vivo separation within suitable media enables the collection of an enriched population of cells which can be processed for biochemical analysis, and perhaps for molecular biology.

Short communication: protection of axotomized retinal ganglion cells by adenovirally delivered BDNF in vivo

Following intraorbital transection of the optic nerve (ON) in rats, more than 80% of the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) population die by apoptosis within 14 days. Repeated intraocular injection of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been efficient in enhancing RGC survival following ON axotomy. The present study was designed to define a potential survival-promoting effect of adenovirally administered BDNF on axotomized RGCs. A single injection of an adenoviral vector expressing the human BDNF gene from a CMV promoter/enhancer (Ad-BDNF) enhanced RGC survival 14 days after axotomy by 40.3%. Moreover, a combinatory treatment regimen consisting of intraocular Ad-BDNF administration and systemic application of the free radical scavenger, N-tert-butyl-(2-sulphophenyl)-nitrone (S-PBN), enhanced RGC survival by 63.0%. Our data demonstrate that adenoviral delivery of neurotrophic factors to the vitreous body is a feasible approach for the prevention of axotomy-induced RGC death. Further, as shown for S-PBN, therapeutic regimens that combine local virus-mediated gene delivery with systemic administration of protective compounds, may offer promising strategies for future treatment also in human neurodegenerative conditions.

Inhibition of CPP32-like proteases rescues axotomized retinal ganglion cells from secondary cell death in vivo

The majority of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) degenerate and die after transection of the optic nerve (ON) in the adult rat. This secondary cell death can primarily be ascribed to apoptosis. Recent work strongly suggests a decisive role for a family of cysteine proteases, termed caspases, as mediators of neuronal apoptosis. In this study, we investigated whether activation of caspases contributes to delayed death of RGCs after axotomy. Intraocular application of various caspase inhibitors rescued up to 34% of RGCs that would otherwise have died 14 d after ON transection. Using a modified affinity-labeling technique, we detected a 17 kDa protease subunit upregulated after axotomy. Upregulation was prevented by caspase inhibitor treatment. The 17 kDa protein was identified as a CPP32-like protease by Western blot analysis and affinity labeling with biotinylated acetyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-aldehyde, which specifically inhibits CPP32-like caspases. In vivo application of the irreversible caspase inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-chloromethylketone revealed CPP32-like proteases to be major mediators of caspase-induced apoptosis in axotomized RGCs, because this inhibitor showed an even higher neuroprotective potential than the irreversible wide-range inhibitor benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-DL-Asp-fluoromethylketone. In summary, the data presented here provide further insight into the mechanisms of injury-induced neuronal apoptosis and could give rise to more effective therapeutic intervention strategies in CNS trauma and neurodegenerative diseases.

Developmental neuronal death is not a universal phenomenon among cell types in the chick embryo retina

The goal of this study was to investigate whether all the cell types present in the chick embryo retina undergo developmental neuronal death. Apoptosis was investigated in retinal sections at different developmental stages, processed either with propidium iodide, which stains pyknotic nuclei intensely, or with terminal transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (d-UTP)-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL). Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was investigated in tissue extracts by agarose gel electrophoresis. TUNEL-positive (T+) cells and pyknotic nuclei were first detectable in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) around embryonic day (ED) 8 and peaked at ED 10. In the inner nuclear layer (INL), T+ and pyknotic cells first appeared on ED 8, reached maximum frequency on ED 11, and were largely absent after ED 14. DNA ladders were observed at all the stages, when T+ and pyknotic cells were abundant, but not on ED 4, when only scattered dead cells were observed histologically. Dying cells were virtually never detected in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) from ED 4 to postnatal day 2. After unilateral midbrain ablation on ED 5, there was a striking increase in the number of pyknotic and T+ cells in both the GCL and in the INL of the contralateral eye but not in the ONL. The absence of apoptotic cell death in the ONL during normal development and after tectal ablation shows that developmental death is not universal among the various cell populations present in the chick embryo retina and raises questions regarding mechanisms controlling both photoreceptor survival and the matching of pre- and postsynaptic elements in the outer plexiform layer of this species.

Prolonged administration of NT-4/5 fails to rescue most axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult rats

The survival of axotomized RGCs was increased by intravitreal NT-4/5 given by repeated injections or osmotic minipumps, but the effects were less complete than predicted. Compared to a single injection of the neurotrophin on day 0, second injections on days 3 or 7 only sustained an additional 10-20% of the RGCs on day 10. Minipumps augmented RGC survival up to 4-fold (50%) at 2 weeks but most RGCs were lost by 1 month. Thus, specific neurotrophins can rescue many RGCs soon after injury but long-term neuronal survival may require a better understanding of changes in neurotrophin receptors and interactions with other molecules.

Functional recovery of vision in regenerated optic nerve fibers

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) of adult mammals normally suffer from retrograde cell death after optic nerve section. However, with transplantation of a segment of peripheral nerve (PN), their axons can regenerate and regrow through the graft. When properly guided, the regenerated axons make functional synapses with the target cells in the superior colliculus. Two months after PN graft we studied the number and morphology of RGCs with regenerated axons in adult cats. Number of regenerated RGCs was a few percent of the total population and, among various RGC types, alpha cells revealed the greatest ability for axonal regeneration and ON-center RGCs tended to regenerate better than OFF-center cells. While dendritic field dimension of RGCs with regenerated axons was mostly preserved, their regenerated axons were thinner than normal optic axons and mostly unmyelinated. The RGCs with regenerated axons revealed normal physiological properties in response to visual stimuli, and were classifiable into Y, X or W cells. In accordance with morphological results, Y cells (morphological alpha cells) were most frequently sampled. In hamsters and rats it has been shown that the animals with reconstructed retinocollicular pathway by the PN graft reveal behavioral recovery of visual function. However, in the cat, trials are still in progress to reconstruct the retinogeniculate pathway. The present status of researches on optic nerve regeneration of adult mammals using the PN graft is reviewed, and some future directions discussed.

Regenerative capacity of retinal ganglion cells in mammals

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their projections in the optic nerve offer a convenient model to study survival and regeneration of mammalian central nervous system (CNS) nerve cells following injury. Possible factors affecting the death of RGCs following axotomy and various approaches to rescue the axotomized RGCs are discussed. In addition, two main strategies currently used to enhance axonal regeneration of damaged RGCs are described. The first focuses on overcoming the unfavorable extrinsic CNS environment and the second concentrates on upregulating the intrinsic growth potential of RGCs. Thus, the failure or success of RGC axonal regrowth after injury depends on the complicated interplay between the extrinsic and intrinsic factors.

Contributions of the optic tectum and the retina as sources of brain-derived neurotrophic factor for retinal ganglion cells in the chick embryo

Retinal ganglion cells (RGC) are supported by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), but it is not known if BDNF acts as a target-derived factor or as an afferent or autocrine trophic factor. Here we demonstrate that BDNF mRNA is expressed in the retinorecipient layer of the chick optic tectum as well as in the inner nuclear layer and ganglion cell layer of the retina. Amacrine cells rather than RGC were the main source of BDNF mRNA in the ganglion cell layer, as determined by in situ hybridization that was combined with retrograde labeling of RGC and destruction of RGC by optic stalk transection, followed by quantitative RT-PCR. Cells in the ganglion cell layer as well as the retinorecipient layers of the optic tectum were BDNF-immunolabeled. After injections into the tectum, radio-iodinated BDNF was transported to the retina where autoradiographic label accumulated in the inner plexiform and ganglion cell layers. After intraocular injection, iodinated BDNF accumulated in these same retinal layers and correlated with the distribution of p75 neurotrophin receptor protein. The majority of cross-linked receptor-bound BDNF in the retina immunoprecipitated with p75 antibodies. No difference in the intensity of BDNF immunolabel was observed in the experimental retina or tectum after optic stalk transection, indicating that most of the BDNF in the RGC was not derived from the optic tectum. These data indicate that a substantial fraction of the BDNF in the ganglion cell layer is derived from local sources, afferents within the retina, rather than from the optic tectum via retrograde transport.

The effects of central administration of neurotrophins or transplants of fetal tectal tissue on retinal ganglion cell survival following removal of the superior colliculus in neonatal rats

In neonatal rats, intraocular injections of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or neurotrophin 4/5 (NT-4/5) enhance the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) following superior colliculus (SC) ablation [Q. Cui, A.R. Harvey, At least two mechanisms are involved in the death of retinal ganglion cells following target ablation in neonatal rats, J. Neurosci., 15, 1995, pp. 8143-8155.]. The aim of the present study was to determine if: (i) fetal tectal tissue grafted into the lesion site, or (ii) neurotrophins applied centrally to the injured SC, also decreased lesion-induced RGC death. Nuclei of tectally projecting RGCs were identified by injecting diamidino yellow (DY) into the left SC of 2-day-old (P2) Wistar rats. Injected SCs were lesioned at P4. In some animals, embryonic (E16) tectal tissue was then implanted into the lesion cavity; host rats were perfused 24 h or 20 days later. In short-term (24-h) studies, the number of DY-labelled pyknotic profiles was compared to the number of normal DY-labelled RGCs in retinal wholemounts (right eyes). The proportion of dying RGCs in animals with grafts (10.7%, n = 17) was not significantly different from lesion-only rats (13.2%, n = 26). Nonetheless, the long-term (20-day) study showed that, in most rats, fetal tectal tissue survived in the lesion cavity and in some cases, the grafts received host retinal input. In another group, different doses of BDNF or NT-4/5 were applied to the SC after P4 tectal lesions. Rats were perfused 24 h later and the number of pyknotic vs. normal DY-labelled RGCs was determined. Initial trials in which SC lesions were filled with gelfoam soaked in BDNF or NT-4/5 were unsuccessful; however, RGC death was reduced (p < 0.05, Dunnett's test) in rats that received gelfoam implants as well as focal neurotrophin injections into SC rostral to the lesion. The lowest pyknotic rate in individual animals from the BDNF and NT-4/5 groups was 2.41% and 2.01%, respectively. Overall, the proportion of dying RGCs was 7.0% (n = 8) for BDNF and 7.4% (n = 17) for NT-4/5 treated rats. Normal RGC densities were also significantly higher in these animals. NT-4/5 topically applied to the posterior surface of the eye did not reduce RGC death. The data show that the viability of injured neonatal RGCs is increased by specific retrograde neurotrophin-mediated survival signals which can be activated from the SC.

BDNF injected into the superior colliculus reduces developmental retinal ganglion cell death

The role of neurotrophins as survival factors for developing CNS neurons, including retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), is uncertain. Null mutations for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) or neurotrophin 4 (NT4), individually or together, are without apparent effect on the number of RGCs that survive beyond the period of normal, developmental RGC death. This contrasts with the BDNF dependence of RGCs in vitro and the effectiveness of BDNF in reducing RGC loss after axotomy. To investigate the effect of target-derived neurotrophins on the survival of developing RGCs, we injected BDNF into the superior colliculus (SC) of neonatal hamsters. At the age when the rate of developmental RGC death is greatest, BDNF produces, 20 hr after injection, a 13-15-fold reduction in the rate of RGC pyknosis compared with the rates in vehicle-injected and untreated hamsters. There is no effect 8 hr after injection. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay measurements of BDNF protein in the retinae and SC of normal and BDNF-treated hamsters demonstrate that the time course of BDNF transport to RGCs supports a role for target-derived BDNF in promoting RGC survival. The effectiveness of pharmacological doses of BDNF in reducing developmental RGC death may be useful in further studies of the mechanisms of stabilization and elimination of immature central neurons.

Kainic acid, tetrodotoxin and light modulate expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in developing avian retinal ganglion cells and their tectal target

Increasing evidence underlies the importance of neurotrophins as neuron-derived trophic signals in the developing visual system, although their precise roles are still undefined. Here we show that brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA is simultaneously expressed in a subpopulation of retinal ganglion cells and in their target during late embryogenesis. Moreover, light as well as the excitotoxin; kainic acid, induced an increase of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA, which could be blocked by the sodium-channel blocker; tetrodotoxin. Messenger RNA for trkB, a receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, was found in the retinal ganglion cells expressing brain-derived neurotrophic factor showing that certain retinal ganglion cells express messenger RNA both for brain-derived neurotrophic factor and trkB. Furthermore, trkB messenger RNA was found in tectum, in the same layers as the brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA. These findings suggest that brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression is regulated in an activity-dependent manner during the phase of development when neuronal activity plays an important role.

Immunohistochemical distribution of neurotrophins and their receptors in the rat retina and the effects of ischemia and reperfusion

1. Neurotrophins are molecules that regulate the survival, development and maintenance of specific functions in different populations of nerve cells. 2. In the present work, we studied the localization, at the cellular level, of the different neurotrophins and their receptors within the rat retina in control and after ischemia-reperfusion of the retina. We found variations in the localization of some of these molecules depending on the reperfusion time of the retina after the ischemic lesion. 3. Thus it is suggested that the changes in the distribution and concentration of neurotrophins and their receptors caused by ischemia are protective reactions related to neuronal damage and synaptic reorganization.

Free radical scavenging and inhibition of nitric oxide synthase potentiates the neurotrophic effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor on axotomized retinal ganglion cells In vivo

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) partially promotes the survival of axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). In analogy with in vitro experiments (; ), we tested whether neuroprotection by BDNF is limited by adverse effects as a consequence of excessive free radical formation. First, we investigated whether BDNF and the free radical scavenger N-tert-butyl-(2-sulfophenyl)-nitrone (S-PBN) cooperate in protecting RGCs from axotomy-induced death. Although systemic S-PBN treatment alone did not influence RGC survival after axotomy, it potentiated the neuroprotective effects of BDNF significantly. Single BDNF treatment rescued 27% of the RGCs, which otherwise would have died 14 d after optic nerve transection, whereas a combined treatment of BDNF and S-PBN improved this rescue rate up to 68%. We then investigated whether the adverse effects of BDNF could be ascribed to activation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). We found colocalization of NOS and the BDNF receptor TrkB in the retina. NADPH-diaphorase reactivity, a reliable marker for NOS in the rat retina, increased after chronic BDNF treatment in vivo. Systemic application of the NOS-inhibitor N-omega-nitro-L-arginine-methylester (L-NAME) potentiated the neuroprotective action of BDNF (55% rescue rate). We conclude that activation of NOS is a pathological consequence of BDNF application, which reduces its neuroprotective potential. The observation that this adverse effect can be antagonized by systemic application of free radical scavengers could be of relevance for clinical applications of neurotrophins in human neurodegenerative diseases.

Reduced size of retinal ganglion cell axons and hypomyelination in mice lacking brain-derived neurotrophic factor

While brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) delays the death of axotomized retinal ganglion cells in rodents, it is unclear if it affects any aspect of the normal development of these cells. Here we examined the optic nerve of bdnf-/- mice. Axonal numbers were normal, but their diameter, as well as the proportion of myelinated axons, was reduced at postnatal day 20 (P20). In contrast, the facial nerve was not hypomyelinated. Expression levels of mRNAs coding for the myelin proteins PLP and MBP were substantially reduced in the hippocampus and cortex at P20, but not in the sciatic nerve. Intraventricular injections of BDNF into the ventricles of wild-type mice at P10 and P12 up-regulated expression of PLP in the hippocampus at P14. These results indicate a role of BDNF, discussed as indirect, in the control of myelination in the central nervous system.

In vivo neurotrophic effects of GDNF on axotomized retinal ganglion cells

The identification of neurotrophic factors ameliorating secondary neuronal death in the mammalian CNS has raised hopes for improved treatment strategies in neurodegenerative diseases, CNS trauma and ischemia. Glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has potent neuroprotective properties in both the CNS and PNS. We sought to investigate whether GDNF exerts survival promoting effects on axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the adult rat in vivo. Transection of the optic nerve induces delayed retrograde death of approximately 85% of RGCs within 14 days. Intraocular GDNF rescued 21% of the RGCs which would otherwise have died after axotomy (34% of the normal control population), thereby extending the group of neuronal populations responsive to GDNF.

Neurobiology of the regenerating retina and its functional reconnection with the brain by means of peripheral nerve transplants in adult rats

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. Axotomized central nervous system neurons, whose regenerating axons are guided to their natural target areas in the brain with the aid of PN grafts, are capable of establishing synaptic contacts with normal morphological and electrophysiological properties. This study was undertaken to 1) morphometrically characterize and classify the regenerating rat RGC, 2) examine target-dependent effects on survival of subsets of neurons, and 3) investigate whether reconnected neurons are capable of restoring visual functions. In analogy to the normal rat retina, as a first step, the retrogradely labeled, regenerating RGC were categorized into five classes which are morphologically distinct and reminiscent of normal RGC correlates (called types RI, RII, RIII, Rdelta-cells, and displaced RGC). It appeared that all types of ganglion cells contributed proportionally to regeneration of axons. 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 of this first part of the work 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. The second goal of this study was to analyze the functional significance of the reestablished synaptic contacts made by regenerated retinocollicular neurons. Adult rats were trained in a T- or Y-maze to obtain a food reward with the aid of visual cues. One of their optic nerves was transected and the regenerating axons were guided into the optic tract with a PN graft, to enable them to reinnervate the SC and thalamus. Postoperative testing of the animals showed a drastic improvement of visual perception. The protocol of denervation of the SC (prior to, simultaneous with, or with a delay with respect to fiber arrival) determined the performance of the animals. Rats belonging to the first two groups performed almost as well as they had before the transplantation. The functional integrity of the retina was assessed by electroretinography, which revealed typical rod spectral sensitivity at 380 and 500 nm but reduced responsiveness to illumination. In accordance, neuroanatomical assessment of the functionally relevant RGC revealed intact morphologies and multiple synaptic contacts both within the retina and within the SC. Neuroanatomical tracing of small contingents of axons throughout the regenerative pathway revealed a rough retinotopic arrangement within the graft and the area of termination. Thus, animals could discriminate between simplified vertical versus horizontal stripes, and visual evoked potentials were positive after grafting. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED)

Axonal transport blockade in the neonatal rat optic nerve induces limited retinal ganglion cell death

Optic nerve section in the newborn rat results in a rapid apoptotic degeneration of most axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). This massive process of neuronal death has been ascribed mainly to the interruption of a trophic factor supply from target structures rather than to the axonal damage per se. To distinguish between these two possibilities, we induced a reversible axonal transport blockade in the developing optic nerve by topical application of a local anesthetic (lidocaine). Light and electron microscopy showed no alterations in the fine structure of treated optic nerves. Retinae of treated and control rats were stained with cresyl violet and examined at different times after surgery. We found that axonal transport blockade induced only a limited number of pyknotic RGCs. Degeneration of these cells was completely prevented by inhibiting protein synthesis during lidocaine application. We conclude that the rapid degeneration of RGCs after axotomy can be ascribed only partly to the loss of retrogradely transported trophic factors.

Expression of specific tubulin isotypes increases during regeneration of injured CNS neurons, but not after the application of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)

Axonal regrowth after injury is accompanied by changes in the expression of tubulin, but the contributions of substrate molecules and neurotrophic factors in regulating these changes in vivo are not known. Adult rat retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were examined after intraorbital axotomy, after application of a peripheral nerve (PN) graft to stimulate regeneration, and after axotomy and treatment with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). After these treatments we used in situ hybridization to study mRNA levels for betaI, betaII, betaIII, betaIVa, and Talpha1 tubulin isotypes. Levels of mRNA for all isotypes were downregulated after intraorbital axotomy. During regrowth of injured RGC axons, mRNA levels for betaII, betaIII, and Talpha1 isotypes were upregulated specifically and dramatically, suggesting that elevated expression of these isotypes is correlated specifically with axonal regrowth. A corresponding increase in betaIII protein levels was detected by immunocytochemistry. The betaI and betaIVa mRNAs were not increased during regeneration. BDNF did not elicit a specific increase in the mRNA levels for the betaIII and Talpha1 isotypes and had only a small effect on mRNA levels for the betaII isotype. Therefore, despite the ability of BDNF to support the survival of injured RGCs and to enhance neurite outgrowth of retinal neurons in vitro, the in vivo application of BDNF alone is unable to induce the program of changes in growth-associated tubulins that accompany regeneration of RGC axons into PN grafts. We speculate that, in addition to BDNF, cooperative signaling with substrate molecules is required to allow RGCs to regenerate and exhibit tubulin isotype switching.