(Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. 2000;41:3165-3170.)
© 2000
by The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.
Axonal Regeneration of Retinal Ganglion Cells Depending on the Distance of Axotomy in Adult Hamsters
SiWei You,
KwokFai So and
Henry K. Yip
From the Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong, China.
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Abstract
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PURPOSE. To examine the relationship between the distance of axotomy and axonal
regeneration of injured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) systematically
and the effect of a predegenerated (pretransected or precrushed)
peripheral nerve (PN) graft on axonal regeneration of RGCs axotomized
at a definite distance (0.5 mm from the optic disc) in comparison with
a normal PN graft.
METHODS. The optic nerve (ON) was transected intraorbitally at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2,
or 3 mm or intracranially at 6 to 8 mm from the optic disc, and a PN
graft was transplanted onto the ocular ON stump in adult hamsters. Four
weeks after grafting, the number of RGCs regenerating their injured
axons into the PN graft was investigated in all animals.
RESULTS. The number of regenerating RGCs decreased significantly when the
distance of axotomy increased from 0.5 to 7 mm. A precrushed PN graft
was shown to enhance more injured RGCs to regenerate axons than a
normal or pretransected PN graft.
CONCLUSIONS. The distance of axotomy on the ON of adult hamsters is critical in
determining the number of regenerating RGCs. Thus, experimental
strategies to repair the damaged ON by PN transplantation is to attach
a precrushed PN graft as close to the optic disc as possible to obtain
optimal axonal regeneration of the axotomized
RGCs.
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Introduction
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The effect of axotomy on the survival and regenerative capacity
of injured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) depends on several factors. In
adult mammals, the nature and site of axonal injury are crucial
determinants of RGC survival and regenerative capacity. More RGCs are
lost after transection than after crush of the optic nerve
(ON),1
and more RGCs survive after an intracranial lesion
than after an intraorbital lesion of the ON.2
3
4
5
However,
no or very few RGCs regrow their injured axons into a peripheral nerve
(PN) graft apposed to the ocular ON stump after intracranial
axotomy5
6
7
; in contrast regrowth of axons into PN grafts
is more prolific from those RGCs that survive axotomy close to their
cell bodies.8
9
10
11
In order to examine systematically the relationship between the extent
of axonal regeneration and the distance between site of axotomy and the
cell body and to develop hypotheses concerning factors affecting the
responses of central neurons axotomy, we have observed the number of
RGCs regenerating axons into PN grafts apposed to ONs cut at various
distances intraorbitally and at approximately 7 mm intracranially from
the optic disc.
There has been some controversy concerning the possible enhanced
ability of predegenerated PN grafts to support
regeneration.12
13
For this reason we also compared the
ability to support regeneration of freshly harvested and predegenerated
(pretransected or precrushed) PN grafts. For these experiments the PN
grafting was performed at a fixed distance from the optic disc. Some of
these results have been presented in abstract.14
 |
Methods
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Forty-eight 8-week-old adult female hamsters (Mesocricetus
auratus; The Laboratory Animal Unit of Faculty of Medicine, The
University of Hong Kong) were used in the present study, and these
animals were divided into 2 groups (group I and group II).
Group I consisted of 6 subgroups with 6 different transection
sites on the ON. Another 2 subgroups were set up in group II to
investigate the effects of pretransected and precrushed PN grafts on
axonal regeneration of RGCs. Similar lengths of the ON were expected in
animals with similar body weights (90100 g). All animals were deeply
anesthetized with an intraperitoneal injection of sodium pentobarbital
(Nembutal, 60 mg/kg body wt; Rhone Merieux Australia Pty Ltd.,
Pinkenbo, QLD, Australia), and all operations were performed
with the use of an operating microscope (Olympus OME, Tokyo, Japan).
This investigation adhered to the tenets of the ARVO Statements for the
Use of Animals in Ophthalamic and Vision Research.
Surgical Procedures
The left ON of group I animals was transected intraorbitally 0.5,
1, 1.5, 2, or 3 mm (n = 30, 6 for each subgroup) or
intracranially approximately 7 mm from the optic disc
(n = 6). After exposure of the posterior pole of the
left eye and the origin of the left ON through a superior temporal
intraorbital approach, the dural sheath was longitudinally excised,
taking care to avoid damage to the ophthalmic artery located on the
inferomedial dural sheath of the ON. The ON was then gently separated
from the dorsal aspect of the sheath and completely transected at 0.5,
1, 1.5, 2, or 3 mm from the optic disc using a pair of small iris
scissors (Adler, Germany). The distance was accurately measured with
the aid of a small ruler. Intraorbital grafting was achieved
immediately after ON transection by attaching the proximal tip of a
segment of an autologous normal PN (the sciatic nerve) dissected from
the left leg to the ocular stump of the transected ON (Fig. 1A
). The two nerve ends were reconnected with a 100 suture (Ethilon,
W2814; Ethicon Ltd., UK). The remaining part of the graft was laid
subcutaneously over the skull. For intracranial ON
transection5
(n = 6), an incision of the
scalp 2.5- to 3.0-cm long was made along the midsagittal line, and the
left frontal bone was exposed by retracting the scalp on the left side.
A small craniotomy (ca 2 x 2 mm2) was
performed using a dental drill (Dremel, USA) in the left frontal bone
just rostral to bregma, and a portion of the left frontal lobe below
the craniotomy was sucked away until the left ON was exposed. A hole
was then made in the meningeal membrane of the inferior surface of the
frontal lobe that had not been disrupted during aspiration of the brain
tissue. The hole was gently enlarged, and the underlying ON with the
dural sheath was completely transected at approximately 7 mm from the
optic disc using a pair of small iris scissors (Adler) without any
bleeding from the adjacent blood vessels. The distance of the
intracranial axotomy has been measured in a pilot study of
animals by dissecting the ON with the eye attached. The distance ranged
between 6 and 8 mm. A small piece of Gelfoam (Upjohn) was used to hold
up the damaged tip of the ocular ON stump. The proximal end of the
normal PN was guided into the cavity using a micropipette and apposed
to the ocular ON stump (Fig. 1B)
. Several pieces of Gelfoam were used
to secure the two nerves and to fill the cavity. The remaining portion
of the PN graft was placed along the wall of the cavity and on top of
the skull. The distal end of the graft was tied to the connective
tissue on the skull. A secure connection between the ON and PN graft
was achieved by this grafting technique as demonstrated previously by
the cutting of paraffin sections of the decalcified head with the brain
in situ.5

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Figure 1. (A) Schematic diagrams illustrating that a normal or
predegenerated PN graft is attached to the ocular stump of
intraorbitally transected ON (upper) at 0.5 mm from the
optic disc. The transection of the ON at other distances (1, 1.5, 2, or
3 mm) from the optic disc is also shown. RGCs that regenerate their
axons into the PN graft are labeled retrogradely with FG applied to the
distal end of the graft (lower). (B) Schematic
diagrams illustrating intracranial ON transection and the
transplantation of a normal PN graft to the ocular ON stump
(upper). RGCs that regenerate their axons into the PN graft
are labeled retrogradely with FG applied to the distal end of the graft
(lower).
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In group II animals (n = 12), the left ON was
transected intraorbitally 0.5 mm from the optic disc with surgical
procedures similar to those described above. However, a different
transplantation procedure was used in which a predegenerated
(pretransected or precrushed) PN graft was apposed to the ocular ON
stump (Fig. 1A) . The left sciatic nerve was completely transected at
mid-thigh level in 6 animals 8 days before transplantation, with the
cut end of the distal portion of the transected PN being ligated with a
50 suture (Mersilk, W595; Ethicon Ltd.) and displaced in the
surrounding muscles to ensure that no regenerating axons from the
proximal PN stump were able to grow into the distal nerve stump. In the
other 6 animals, the left sciatic nerve was crushed with a pair of fine
forceps (Aesculap, Germany) at the same mid-thigh level to test the
effect of a precrushed PN graft on axonal regeneration of RGCs. The
interval of 8 days was selected because optimal neurite
outgrowthsupporting activities were detected in 5 to 8 day
pre-degenerated sciatic nerve.15
16
Labeling and Counting of Regenerating RGCs
After the surgery, the animals with intraorbital grafting were
allowed to survive for 4 weeks, while the animals undergoing
intracranial grafting procedures survived for 8 weeks to ensure
sufficient time for axonal regeneration to occur based on the maximum
rate of regrowing optic axons in a PN graft (approximately 12
mm/d).17
18
A longer survival time was used for the
intracranial group of animals because, compared with the intraorbital
group, the distance of axotomy was at least 4 mm longer, and the site
of FluoroGold (FG; Fluorochrome, Inc., Denver, CO) application
was further away from the attachment of the PN graft (see below). Three
days before they were killed, the PN graft in the animals with
intraorbital grafting was exposed and severed at approximately 0.5 cm
from the attachment site. For the animals with intracranial grafting,
the PN graft was exposed and severed at the site of craniotomy at
approximately 1 cm from the attachment site. A small piece of Gelfoam
soaked in 6% FG was applied to the cut end of the graft to
retrogradely label the regenerating RGCs (Fig. 1)
. No transcardial
perfusion was carried out. The left eye was enucleated immediately
after the animal was killed with an overdose of sodium pentobarbital.
The retina was dissected in 4% paraformaldehyde (Merck, Germany) in
phosphate buffer (0.1 M, pH 7.4; Sigma), post-fixed in the same
fixative for 1 hour, and rinsed in phosphate-buffered saline (0.1 M, pH
7.4; Sigma) for three times. It was then flatmounted in glycerol
(Merck) on a glass slide and coverslipped. The FG-labeled regenerating
RGCs were counted in all the retinas under a fluorescence microscope
(model MM-11; Nikon, Japan) equipped with an interchangeable filter
(400 nm for FG).
Statistical Analysis
For statistical analysis, MannWhitney U test19
was
used to compare the mean numbers of regenerating RGCs between every two
subgroups. These comparisons were conducted to take into account the
relationship between the number of regenerating RGCs and the increased
distance of axotomy from the optic disc; a possible critical distance
of ON transection for axotomized RGCs to regenerate into a PN graft;
and the different effects of a normal or predegenerated PN graft on the
number of regenerating RGCs at the same distance of ON transection. All
statistical analyses were performed on a computer using SPSS for
Windows statistical package (version 6.0, 19891993; SPSS, Cary, NC.).
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Results
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The number of regenerating RGCs was determined by counting
retrogradely FG-labeled RGCs in all retinas. In group I, the labeled
RGCs were consistently distributed over the whole retinal eccentricity
and covered all quadrants, indicating that RGCs from the entire retina
contributed to the regeneration of axons in the PN graft. RGC density
was higher in the central retinal regions, decreasing toward the
peripheral retina. The most intensive distributions of RGCs were
located in the superotemporal quadrants, and the lowest RGC densities
were found in the inferior nasal quadrants. The general morphology of
regenerating RGCs (Fig. 2A
) in all subgroups was similar to that of regenerating RGCs described
previously.20
They usually had enlarged cell bodies with
simplified dendrites.

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Figure 2. Regenerating RGCs labeled with FG from the animals with a normal
(A) or pretransected (B) PN graft after axotomy
at 2 mm from the optic disc. Enlarged cell bodies with simplified
dendrites are shown. The number of regenerating RGCs decreased
significantly when the distance of axotomy increased from 0.5 mm
(C) to 2 mm (D). The number of regenerating RGCs
in an animal with a precrushed PN graft (F) is significantly
more than those with a normal (C) or pretransected
(E) PN graft at the 0.5-mm distance point. Scale bar,
(A, B) 50 µm; (C, D) 100
µm.
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The number of RGCs regenerating axons into the normal PN grafted onto
the ocular stump of the ON transected at 0.5 (Fig. 2C)
, 1, 1.5, 2 (Fig. 2D)
, 3, or 7 mm from the optic disc was 1644 ± 212, 1146 ±
163, 618 ± 56, 352 ± 45, 52 ± 16, or 0.33 ±
0.52, respectively (mean ± SD). The raw data for each animal in
all the subgroups (n = 6) are listed in Table 1
. It was shown that there was a significant decrease (P = 0.0104) in the number of regenerating RGCs with an increase in
distance of axotomy and grafting (Fig. 3) . Significant differences were observed between every two adjacent
transection sites (i.e., 0.51, 11.5, 1.52, 23, and 37 mm
distance points with P = 0.0104, 0.0039, 0.0039, 0.0039, and
0.0033, respectively) and maintained when two distant transection sites
were compared (i.e., 0.51, 1.5, 2, 3, or 7 mm and 11.5, 2, 3, or 7
mm; 1.52, 3, or 7 mm; and 23 or 7 mm). Thus, all distances equal to
or longer than 0.5 mm between two transection points were significantly
different. A nonparametric test was used (MannWhitney U test), and
the figures for the median and range of all groups of animals are
listed in Table 1
.

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Figure 3. The line graph shows that 4 weeks after intraorbital or 8 weeks after
intracranial ON transection and PN transplantation, the number of
regenerating RGCs decreased significantly when the distance of axotomy
increased from 0.5 to 7 mm from the optic disc. There were six animals
in each of the experimental subgroups. Error bar, SD.
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The distribution and morphology (Fig. 2B)
of the regenerating RGCs in
group II animals with a predegenerated PN graft were similar to those
in group I. Increased number of regenerating RGCs (P =
0.0131) was detected in the animals with the precrushed PN graft
(2465 ± 568; Fig. 2F
) when compared with those with the normal
(1644 ± 212; Fig. 2C
) or pretransected (1628 ± 579; Fig. 2E
) PN graft (Fig. 4)
. No significant difference was shown between the animals with the
normal and pretransected PN grafts (P > 0.05;
Fig. 4
).

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Figure 4. The histogram illustrates the mean numbers of RGCs regenerating their
axons into a normal or predegenerated (pretransected or precrushed) PN
graft. The black column with an asterisk
at the 0.5-mm distance point represents the mean number of regenerating
RGCs in the precrushed PN graft subgroup (n = 6),
which is significantly different (P = 0.0374) from
those in the normal (n = 6) or pretransected PN
graft (n = 6) subgroups. Error bar, SD.
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Discussion
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The effects of distance of axotomy on RGC survival and
regeneration reported previously might be due to different types of
intraorbital and intracranial ON lesions. The present study provides a
systematic attempt with the same type of intraorbital ON lesion to
elucidate how the number of regenerating RGCs decreases with an
increase in the distance of axotomy from the optic disc. We have shown
that there is a tight correlation between distance of axotomy on the ON
of adult hamsters and the number of RGCs regenerating into a PN graft,
and a precrushed PN graft can enhance more injured RGCs to regenerate
than a normal or pretransected PN graft. Therefore, experimental
manipulations using a PN graft to repair the damaged ON should use a
precrushed PN transplanted as close to the optic disc as possible to
obtain optimal axonal regeneration of the axotomized RGCs.
In the present study, the number of regenerating RGCs decreased
significantly when the distance of axotomy increased from 0.5 to 7 mm,
with a sharp decline between 0.5 and 3 mm. Our data do not seem to
relate to the increased survival of RGCs because VillegasPérez
and colleagues4
have shown in the rat that after an
intraorbital ON cut at 0.5 or 3 mm or an intracranial ON crush at 8 or
10 mm, the number of surviving RGCs decreases as the distance of
axotomy increases. Thus, we have formulated the following two
hypotheses to explain our result. First, regarding neurotrophic effect
of the PN graft, in order for neurons to initiate an extensive
regenerating response, stimulatory signals initiated by the
neurotrophic factors (NTFs) released from the PN graft, which is
attached to the ON stump, might be required. Schwann cells have been
shown to secrete many different types of NTFs, and some may be
important for axonal regeneration (nerve growth
factor,21
fibroblast growth factor,22
platelet-derived growth factor,23
ciliary
neurotrophic factor [CNTF],24
glia-derived growth
factor,25
and brain-derived neurotrophic
factor26
). However, the NTFs contained in the PN graft
might not be effective in inducing regeneration after distal axotomy
because the signals might have progressively dissipated with increasing
length of the optic axons or it might take too long for the stimulatory
signals to reach the cell bodies to have any significant
effect.7
Intravitreal PN grafts have been shown to enhance
the regeneration of axotomized RGCs,5
27
and we now know
that CNTF might be responsible for such a promoting
effect.28
29
Second, regarding the inhibitory effect of
the ON, there are neurite growth inhibitory components30
such as NI-35 or NI-250(Nogo-A)31
32
present in myelin and
oligodendrocyte membranes in the central nervous system (CNS), which
might generate some retrograde signals to the cell bodies to suppress
the growth potential of the axons by preventing or delaying axotomized
neurons from switching to a growth mode. Thus, proximal axotomy would
remove most of these nonneuronal components and also eliminate most of
the retrograde inhibitory signals, leading to vigorous regeneration of
axotomized RGCs. However, very few RGCs can regenerate after distal
axotomy because a large number of the inhibitory components are still
interacting on the ON, and they could send sufficient retrograde
inhibitory signals to suppress axonal regeneration of axotomized RGCs.
It could be observed during the surgery that the very proximal part
(approximately 0.5 mm from the optic disc) of the ON is thinner,
whereas the part longer than 0.5 mm from the optic disc is much thicker
because myelinated fibers are scarce or even absent in the proximal
part of the ON.33
The lack of myelin and oligodendrocytes
in the beginning part of the ON suggests the absence of neurite growth
inhibitors and, therefore, allows more axotomized RGCs to regenerate
into a PN graft. In the present study, the highest number of
regenerating RGCs has been obtained with the axotomy at 0.5 mm from the
optic disc, thus providing some support for this hypothesis.
Although the extrinsic influences exerted by nonneuronal cells are
important for CNS axonal regeneration, we cannot exclude the
possibility that some CNS neurons lose intrinsic regenerative
capability. Recent studies have shown that most RGCs lose their
regenerative capacity once the retinal axons shift from an elongation
to an arborization growth mode.34
GAP-43 is not detected
in normal RGCs of adult rats or hamsters. Very few damaged RGCs express
GAP-43 after distal axotomy, but a lot more express this protein when
axotomy is close to the cell bodies.27
35
36
In addition,
after proximal axotomy, the expression level of GAP-43 messenger RNA in
the axotomized retinas was shown to be increased.29
The
expression of c-Jun begins later and declines faster after distal than
proximal ON transection.37
Axotomized RGCs regenerating
through a PN graft coexpress c-Jun and GAP-43 for several
weeks.38
39
Deprivation of NTFs or removal of inhibitory
factors, as a result of ON transection, could be part of the
explanation for the expression of growth-related genes such as GAP-43.
It is possible that the distance of axotomy can affect the intrinsic
growth potential in RGCs and thus influence the regenerative capacity
of RGCs.
In addition to the effect of the distance of axotomy, the interruption
of blood supply to the intracranial portion of the ON might be an
additional factor to explain why very few RGCs were able to regrow into
the PN after intracranial ON transection. The blood supply to the
retina was not affected when the ON was transected intraorbitally
(0.53 mm from the optic disc), because the ON was cut after opening
the dorsal part of the dura. However, the entire ON and surrounding
meninges were severed simultaneously when we performed intracranial ON
transection. This procedure might disrupt some of the blood supply to
the ON, resulting in ischemic necrosis in the distal part of the ocular
ON stump.5
40
However, such ischemic damage could not be
found after intraorbital ON transection.41
Thus, the
ischemic necrosis might result in the formation of an extensive scar,
which could limit retrograde axonal transport of NTFs toward the cell
bodies of RGCs and prevent axons from regenerating into the PN graft
after intracranial ON transection.
The evidence for the enhancing effect of predegenerated PN segments on
the regeneration and survival of either peripheral nervous
system or CNS axons remains inconclusive and
controversial12
13
42
43
since Cajals early studies.
Bahr and coworkers observed that a PN graft precrushed 1 week before
grafting significantly enhances more RGCs to survive and regenerate
compared with a normal PN graft 3 months, but not 6 months, after
transplantation.12
However, Thanos and Mey13
revealed that a similar precrushed PN cannot enhance the number of
regenerating RGCs 2 months after grafting. These opposing results were
interpreted by Thanos as different labeling methods used to detect RGCs
in the two research groups. In the present study, the precrushed PN
graft induced more RGCs to regenerate than the normal and pretransected
PN graft at the 0.5 mm distance point 4 weeks after grafting. As
compared with the pretransected PN graft, the continuity of the nerve
sheaths and the basal lamina is preserved in the precrushed PN graft
before grafting. Axonal degeneration in the PN is slower after a crush
than after a cut.44
There is normally a second phase of
Schwann cell proliferation in which regenerating axons grow into the
distal nerve stump.45
More NTFs produced by a greater
number of Schwann cells in the precrushed PN graft may contribute to
the greater number of RGCs regenerating into the precrushed PN graft
observed in the present study. In addition, various extracellular
molecules have been suggested to be important for underlying the
ability of Schwann cells to foster axonal regeneration. These include
L1,46
L2,47
N-cadherin,48
neural
cell adhesion molecules (n-CAM),49
and heparan sulfate
proteoglycan complex.50
Whether any of these molecules are
differentially upregulated after a crush or cut lesion of the PN
remains to be investigated.
 |
Acknowledgements
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The authors thank Chit Ming Wong, ShengXiu Li, and
Jie-Lai Xia for their help in the statistical analysis.
 |
Footnotes
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Supported by research grants from the Research Grant Council and The
University of Hong Kong.
Submitted for publication September 27, 1999; revised March 23 and
April 14, 2000; accepted April 26, 2000.
Commercial relationships policy: N.
Corresponding author: KwokFai So, Department of Anatomy, Faculty of
Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 5 Sassoon Road, Hong Kong,
China. hrmaskf{at}hkucc.hku.hk
 |
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