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In Vitro and In Vivo Methods for Studying Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival and Optic Nerve Regeneration

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Glaucoma

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1695))

Abstract

Glaucoma is marked by a progressive degeneration of the optic nerve and delayed loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the projection neurons of the eye. Because RGCs are not replaced and because surviving RGCs cannot regenerate their axons, the visual loss in glaucoma is largely irreversible. Here, we describe methods to evaluate treatments that may be beneficial for treating glaucoma using in vitro cell culture models (immunopanning to isolate neonatal RGCs, dissociated mature retinal neurons, retinal explants) and in vivo models that test potential treatments or investigate underlying molecular mechanisms in an intact system. Potentially, use of these models can help investigators continue to improve treatments to preserve RGCs and restore visual function in patients with glaucoma.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, CLS 13030-15, 3 Blackfan Circle, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Yuqin Yin & Larry I. Benowitz

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Yuqin Yin & Larry I. Benowitz

  3. Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Larry I. Benowitz

Authors
  1. Yuqin Yin
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  2. Larry I. Benowitz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuqin Yin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary/Schepens Eye, Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Tatjana C. Jakobs

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Yin, Y., Benowitz, L.I. (2018). In Vitro and In Vivo Methods for Studying Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival and Optic Nerve Regeneration. In: Jakobs, T. (eds) Glaucoma. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1695. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7407-8_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7407-8_16

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7406-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7407-8

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