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Axonal regeneration induced by repetitive electrical stimulation of crushed optic nerve in adult rats

  • Laboratory Investigation
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Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 September 2009

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate whether electrical stimulation promoted axonal regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve (ON) crush in adult rats.

Methods

Transcorneal electrical stimulation (TES), which stimulates the retina with current from a corneal contact lens electrode, was used to stimulate the eye. TES was applied for 1 h immediately after ON crush. Axonal regeneration was determined by anterograde labeling of RGC axons. To examine whether the axonal regeneration was mediated by insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptors, an IGF-1 receptor antagonist, JB3, was injected intraperitoneally before each TES application. Immunostaining for IGF-1 was performed to examine the effects of TES. To test the survival-promoting effects of TES applied daily, the mean density of retrogradely labeled RGCs was determined on day 12 after ON crush.

Results

Compared with sham stimulation, the mean number of regenerating axons significantly increased at 250 μm distal from the lesion and increased IGF-1 immunoreactivity was observed in retinas treated daily with TES. Preinjection of an IGF-1 receptor antagonist significantly blocked axonal regeneration by TES applied daily. TES applied daily also markedly enhanced the survival of RGCs 12 days after ON crush.

Conclusion

TES applied daily promotes both axonal regeneration and survival of RGCs after ON crush.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan

    Yuichi Tagami, Takuji Kurimoto & Osamu Mimura

  2. Department of Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan

    Tomomitsu Miyoshi & Hajime Sawai

  3. Department of Applied Visual Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan

    Takeshi Morimoto

  4. Department of Ophthalmology, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, 663-8501, Japan

    Takuji Kurimoto

Authors
  1. Yuichi Tagami
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  2. Takuji Kurimoto
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  3. Tomomitsu Miyoshi
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  4. Takeshi Morimoto
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  5. Hajime Sawai
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  6. Osamu Mimura
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takuji Kurimoto.

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Tagami, Y., Kurimoto, T., Miyoshi, T. et al. Axonal regeneration induced by repetitive electrical stimulation of crushed optic nerve in adult rats. Jpn J Ophthalmol 53, 257–266 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-009-0657-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-009-0657-8

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