ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of Colera Toxin(CTx) on the regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after distal axotomy in adult hamsters. Method After transecting the optic nerve(ON) intracranically,an autologus sciatic nerve (attached graft,AG) was removed and connected to the proximal stump of the ON.CTx was injected and/or a 2mm segment of sciatic nerve(SN) was inserted intravitreally.Animals were divideded into six groups:control group 1(AG group) and control group 2(solution group);AG+SN group;AG+CTx group;AG+SN+CTx group;effect and dosage group.Animals in the former five groups were allowed to survive for 4-6 weeks respectively.Granular blue fluorescent retrograde labeling method was used to measure the quantity of regenerating RGCs of control and experiment animals. Results The mean number of regenerating RGCs in AG+CTx groups were increased and significantly higher than those in control group 1 and control group 2 at each time point(P