Evolving Axon Degeneration in Optic Nerve Crush Mice Assessed using In Vivo Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Peng Sun¹, Xu Zhang¹, Qing Wang², Sheng-Kwei Song¹

Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy originating from intraocular pressure induced optic nerve damage and the ensuing retrograde degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and the progressive loss of vision. Using a widely accepted mouse model of optic nerve crush, in vivo DTI performed at 6 hr, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after unilateral optic nerve crush to investigate the relationship between optic nerve injury and retinal ganglion cell damage. The current results suggest that DTI may be used to identify axon injury and demyelination tracking the disease progression of glaucoma in vivo.