To date, it remains unclear if a functional glymphatic system exists in the optic nerve (ON), partly because of limited in vivo methods for characterizing the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics in the deeper brain regions. Here, we measured the spatiotemporal profiles in the ON using contrast-enhanced MRI after intrathecal gadolinium infusion, and observed indications for the existence of a molecular size-dependent and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) modulated glymphatic-like system in the ON. These findings may provide imperative insights into the waste clearance mechanisms of the visual system in health and disease.
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