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A DYNAMIC VIEW OF THE RETINAL GANGLION CELL AND ITS TRANSPORT
Author(s) -
SJÖSTRAND JOHAN
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1981.tb05750.x
Subject(s) - axoplasmic transport , axon , optic nerve , retinal ganglion cell , retina , neuroscience , ganglion , biology , anatomy
Material, such as proteins and organelles are supplied continuously from the cell body of the retinal ganglion cell to its axon and nerve terminals under normal conditions. During the last decade a picture of the dynamic transport of proteins and organelles within the retinal ganglion cell has evolved. Due to the dependence of the axon and its terminals on the integrity of these transport systems a complete prolonged transport blockade leads to axon degeneration. The role of axonal transport disturbances in the pathophysiology of axon dysfunction and degeneration in the retina and optic nerve has therefore been studied experimentally in a variety of pathological conditions. This short review discusses recent data and theories concerning the implications of axonal transport studies in ophthalmology. The pattern of axonal transport block at the optic nerve head in experimental intraocular hypertension support the view that mechanical compression at this site is a probable mechanism of optic nerve damage. Transport obstruction within the axons of primarily the slow phase seems to be a major factor in the production of the swollen axon in optic nerve head swelling. Although studies of axonal transport are virtually impossible in man, signs of dysfunction of axonal transport can be observed in the fundus of the human eye by ophthalmoscopy in various diseases.