Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

N -Methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA)-Mediated Excitotoxic Damage: A Mouse Model of Acute Retinal Ganglion Cell Damage

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Retinal Degeneration

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 935))

Abstract

The animal model of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-induced excitotoxic damage of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) is widely used to study the molecular mechanisms of RGC apoptosis and/or its prevention by neuroprotective agents. This chapter provides protocols for applying NMDA-induced excitotoxic damage to RGC of mouse eyes and for subsequent measuring of the extent of the resulting damage.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Shen Y, Liu XL, Yang XL (2006) N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in the retina. Mol Neurobiol 34:163–179

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Seki M, Lipton SA (2008) Targeting excitotoxic/free radical signaling pathways for therapeutic intervention in glaucoma. Prog Brain Res 173:495–510

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Li Y, Schlamp CL, Nickells RW (1999) Experimental induction of retinal ganglion cell death in adult mice. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 40:1004–1008

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Seitz R, Hackl S, Seibuchner T, Tamm ER, Ohlmann A (2010) Norrin mediates neuroprotective effects on retinal ganglion cells via activation of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway and the induction of neuroprotective growth factors in Muller cells. J Neurosci 30:5998–6010

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Gavrieli Y, Sherman Y, Ben-Sasson SA (1992) Identification of programmed cell death in situ via specific labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation. J Cell Biol 119:493–501

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Karnovsky MJ (1965) A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolality for use in electron-microscopy. J Cell Biol 27:137–138

    Google Scholar 

  7. Schultze WH (1972) Über das Paraphenyl-endiamin in der histologischen Färbetechnik und über eine neue Schnellfärbemethode der Nervenmarkscheide am Gefrierschnitt. Zentralbl Pathol 36:639–640

    Google Scholar 

  8. Richardson KC, Jarret L, Finke H (1960) Embedding in epoxy resins for ultrathin sectioning in electron microscopy. Stain Technol 35:313–323

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Fischer D, Pavlidis M, Thanos S (2000) Cataractogenic lens injury prevents traumatic ganglion cell death and promotes axonal regeneration both in vivo and in culture. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41:3943–3954

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Fischer D, Hauk TG, Muller A, Thanos S (2008) Crystallins of the beta/gamma-superfamily mimic the effects of lens injury and promote axon regeneration. Mol Cell Neurosci 37:471–479

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Muller A, Hauk TG, Fischer D (2007) Astrocyte-derived CNTF switches mature RGCs to a regenerative state following inflammatory stimulation. Brain 130:3308–3320

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Yin Y, Cui Q, Li Y, Irwin N, Fischer D, Harvey AR, Benowitz LI (2003) Macrophage-derived factors stimulate optic nerve regeneration. J Neurosci 23:2284–2293

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Williams RW, Strom RC, Rice DS, Goldowitz D (1996) Genetic and environmental control of variation in retinal ganglion cell number in mice. J Neurosci 16:7193–7205

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Dangata YY, Findlater GS, Dhillon B, Kaufman MH (1994) Morphometric study of the optic nerve of adult normal mice and mice heterozygous for the Small eye mutation (Sey/+). J Anat 185(Pt 3):627–635

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Schori H, Yoles E, Wheeler LA, Raveh T, Kimchi A, Schwartz M (2002) Immune-related mechanisms participating in resistance and susceptibility to glutamate toxicity. Eur J Neurosci 16:557–564

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. London A, Itskovich E, Benhar I, Kalchenko V, Mack M, Jung S, Schwartz M (2011) Neuroprotection and progenitor cell renewal in the injured adult murine retina requires healing monocyte-derived macrophages. J Exp Med 208:23–39

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Ganesh BS, Chintala SK (2011) Inhibition of reactive gliosis attenuates excitotoxicity-mediated death of retinal ganglion cells. PLoS One 6:e18305

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Jakobs TC, Ben Y, Masland RH (2007) Expression of mRNA for glutamate receptor subunits distinguishes the major classes of retinal neurons, but is less specific for individual cell types. Mol Vis 13:933–948

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Antje Zenker provided the schematic drawings.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Human Anatomy and Embryology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Roswitha Seitz & Ernst R. Tamm

Authors
  1. Roswitha Seitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ernst R. Tamm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ernst R. Tamm .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, Regensburg, 93053, Germany

    Bernhard H.F. Weber

  2. INSTITUTE OF HUMAN GENETICS, INSTITUTE OF HUMAN GENETICS, FRANZ-JOSEF-STRAUSS-ALLEE 11, 93053 REGENSBURG, Germany

    THOMAS LANGMANN

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Seitz, R., Tamm, E.R. (2012). N -Methyl-d-Aspartate (NMDA)-Mediated Excitotoxic Damage: A Mouse Model of Acute Retinal Ganglion Cell Damage. In: Weber, B., LANGMANN, T. (eds) Retinal Degeneration. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 935. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-080-9_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-080-9_7

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-079-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-080-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation