Transneuronal Degeneration in the Visual Pathway of Rats following Acute Retinal Ischemia/Reperfusion

Figure 2

Changes of RGC ultrastructure after RI/R injury (10000×,  μm). (a) Control group, Nu: nucleus of RGCs: the nucleus of RGCs presented round shape with smooth nuclear contours and accounted for most volume in the normal physiological state. (b) I/R-12 h group, the morphology of RGCs at 12 hours post-RI/R injury: the cytoplasmic edema was visible (red triangle) and nuclear chromatin became condensed, but the aggregation of chromatin and fragmentation of nuclei did not occur (Nu). (c) I/R-3 d group, the morphology of RGCs at 3 days post-RI/R injury: the cytoplasmic vacuole formed in RGCs (red circle). The chromatin continues to aggregate, and the volume of the nucleus shrunk (Nu). (d) I/R-7 d group, the morphology of RGCs at 7 days post-RI/R injury: more vacuolar can be seen in the cytoplasm of RGCs (red circle), and the fragmentation of nuclei began to appear; both the chromatin and the organelles began to dissolve; these phenomena suggest necrosis in RGCs. I/R-12 h: rats euthanized 12 hours post-RI/R injury; I/R-3 d: rats euthanized 3 days post-RI/R injury; I/R-7 d: rats euthanized 7 days post-RI/R injury.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)