ABSTRACT
This investigation were performed in order to study the mechanism of neuronal cell degeneration and mediated gene of retinal cell death in optic nerve transection model. The optic nerve was transected at 5mm posterior from eye ball without affecting the retinal blood supply. Expression of cell deth gene were observed by p53p and Bax immunohistochemistry. The density of ganglion cels was determined by flat-mounted retinas after axotomy. Dying cells contained the pycnotic nuclei at 1 and 2 weeks and approximately 50% of ganglion cells were degenerated within 14 days after axotomy in ganglion cell layer. Bax and p53 were found to be expressed in the ganglion cell layer and inner unclear layer at 7 and 14 days after optic nerve transection. At 14 days, expression of death genes were observed strogly in ganglion cell layer and partially in inner unclear layer. this study suggest that p53p and Bax proteins may mediate ganglion cell degeneration after axotomy.