Changes in the ultrastructure of optic nerve after optic nerve incision decompression in rats / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective Through transmission electron microscopy we observe the ultrastructure of optic nerve to evaluate the curative effect of optic nerve incision decompression (ONID) for incomplete injury to optic nerve. Methods The optic nerve was crushed for 30s to produce incomplete injury to the optic nerve in rats, and then the rats were divided into two groups. ONID was performed 6 hours after the injury in one group, and in the other group decompression was omitted(non-ONLD). Ultrastructure of optic nerve was observed 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 6 months later in both groups. Results After 1 month denaturalization of myelin sheaths and axons of the injured optic nerve was severe in non- ONID group, and after 3 months the optic nerve entirely lost its normal structure. On the other hand, denaturalization of myelin sheaths and axons was evidently less intense in ONID group, and the changes in structure of optic nerve were stabilized. Conclusions ONID reduced the speed of degeneration of the injured optic nerve and postpones the process of axon denaturalization, thus protects the optic nerve from secondary injuries.