PubMed ID: 7706025
Author(s): Quigley HA, Nickells RW, Kerrigan LA, Pease ME, Thibault DJ, Zack DJ. Retinal ganglion cell death in experimental glaucoma and after axotomy occurs by apoptosis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1995 Apr;36(5):774-86.
Journal: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Volume 36, Issue 5, Apr 1995
PURPOSE To investigate whether retinal ganglion cell death in experimental glaucoma and after axotomy occurs by apoptosis.
METHODS Chronic elevated eye pressure was produced in 20 monkey eyes, and the optic nerve was transected unilaterally in the orbit of 10 monkeys and 14 rabbits. Sixteen monkey and 14 rabbit eyes were studied as normal controls. Analytic methods included light and electron microscopy, histochemistry for DNA fragmentation (TUNEL method), and DNA electrophoresis in agarose gels.
RESULTS Dying ganglion cells in the experimental retinas exhibited morphologic features of apoptosis, including chromatin condensation and formation of apoptotic bodies. Cells with a positive reaction for DNA fragmentation were observed in eyes subjected to axotomy and experimental glaucoma but were only rarely encountered in control eyes. No evidence of internucleosomal fragmentation was detected electrophoretically, possibly because of the small proportion of cells that were dying at any given time.
CONCLUSION Some retinal ganglion cells injured by glaucoma and by axotomy die by apoptosis.