Abstract
Purpose: :
Axonal dystrophies in neurodegenerations demonstrate a characteristic morphology and neurochemistry that varies depending on etiology. We examined retinal ganglion cell axons in the optic projection of the DBA/2J mouse model of glaucoma for protein indicators that have been implicated in the pathogenesis and injury response in other neurodegenerative disorders.
Methods: :
Brains were harvested from aldehyde-perfused DBA/2J mice between 3 and 22 months of age, sectioned in the coronal plane, and immuno-stained for different phosphoisoforms of heavy-chain neurofilament (NF-H), the axonal marker tubulin, the anterograde transport motor kinesin, and axonal growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43).
Results: :
While axonal dystrophies could be present at any age in the optic nerve and tract, their likelihood increased with increasing age. Axonal dystrophies occurred either as a series of swellings along continuous axons or as a large, single varicosity marking the end bulb of a degenerating axon. Dystrophies varied in size up to 10µm in diameter and contained accumulations of various cytoskeletal elements, including tubulin, phosphorylated NF-H (SMI-31), and hyperphosphorylated NF-H (SMI-34) as well as kinesin. Large varicosities in the optic tract that strongly stained for GAP-43 were found in animals as old as 22 months. GAP-43+ varicosities were absent in young (3-5 months) animals.
Conclusions: :
As in other neurodegenerative disorders, axonal dystrophies in the DBA/2J mouse contain large accumulations of cytoskeletal proteins and kinesin indicative of compromised axonal transport. Hyperphosphorylation of NF-H (SMI-34) is thought to be a causative factor in the development of axonal transport deficits, known to be relevant in the DBA/2J. GAP-43 accumulations evident in the optic tract even at very advanced ages suggest that distal axonal plasticity may represent a potential therapeutic target in glaucoma.
Keywords: degenerations/dystrophies • optic nerve • regeneration