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α-Crystallin Protected Axons from Optic Nerve Degeneration After Crushing in Rats

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Abstract

In mature mammals, optic nerve injury results in apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells. The literature confirms that lens injury enhances retinal ganglion cells survival, but the mechanism is not very clear. Using silver staining method and computer image analysis techniques, the effect of α-crystallin, a major component of the lens in the survival of retinal ganglion cell axons, was investigated in vivo after intravitreal injections. The results showed that enhanced survival of axotomized axons was observed beyond the crush site after a single intravitreal administration of α-crystallin at the time of axotomy. Axonal density of the retinal ganglion cell was significantly greater than in the untreated controls until 2 weeks after injection. This effect declined by 4 weeks after injection but survival of axons remained greater than controls. These findings indicate that α-crystallin plays a key role in protecting axons after optic nerve injury.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China

    Xi Ying, Yanhua Wang, Nan Wu & Yi Wang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burns and Combined Injury, Institute of Burns, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China

    Jiaping Zhang

  3. Department of Anatomy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China

    David T. Yew

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  1. Xi Ying
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  2. Jiaping Zhang
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  3. Yanhua Wang
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  4. Nan Wu
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  5. Yi Wang
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  6. David T. Yew
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Correspondence to Yi Wang or David T. Yew.

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Ying, X., Zhang, J., Wang, Y. et al. α-Crystallin Protected Axons from Optic Nerve Degeneration After Crushing in Rats. J Mol Neurosci 35, 253–258 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-007-9010-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-007-9010-1

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