Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Axonal Transport

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration for Retinal Diseases

  • 762 Accesses

Abstract

Glaucomatous optic neuropathy is characterized by degeneration of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons and RGC death. Recent studies have suggested that glaucoma is a multifactorial disease that involves several molecular mechanisms. RGCs have long axons that provide spatial separation between the cell body and synapses. This anatomical structure has allowed us to use tracer injections to study axonal transport in RGCs. Increased intraocular pressure has been demonstrated to induce disturbances in axonal transport of tracers in RGCs. On the other hand, neurotrophic factors, particularly brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), have been demonstrated to support the survival of damaged RGCs in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, disturbances in retrograde axonal transport of BDNF may be associated with RGC death in glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Here we summarize the current understanding of axonal transport and BDNF in glaucomatous optic neuropathy. In addition, we introduce our approach to glaucomatous optic neuropathy, live imaging of axonal transport in RGCs, which may lead to the prediction of RGC death in glaucoma patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Quigley HA, Addicks EM, Green WR, Maumenee AE (1981) Optic nerve damage in human glaucoma. II. The site of injury and susceptibility to damage. Arch Ophthalmol 99(4):635–649

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Kawasaki R, Wang JJ, Rochtchina E, Lee AJ, Wong TY, Mitchell P (2013) Retinal vessel caliber is associated with the 10-year incidence of glaucoma: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Ophthalmology 120(1):84–90. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2012.07.007

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lampert PW, Vogel MH, Zimmerman LE (1968) Pathology of the optic nerve in experimental acute glaucoma. Electron microscopic studies. Invest Ophthalmol 7(2):199–213

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Radius RL (1980) Optic nerve fast axonal transport abnormalities in primates. Occurrence after short posterior ciliary artery occlusion. Arch Ophthalmol 98(11):2018–2022

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Radius RL, Bade B (1981) Pressure-induced optic nerve axonal transport interruption in cat eyes. Arch Ophthalmol 99(12):2163–2165

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Takihara Y, Inatani M, Hayashi H, Adachi N, Iwao K, Inoue T, Iwao M, Tanihara H (2011) Dynamic imaging of axonal transport in living retinal ganglion cells in vitro. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 52(6):3039–3045. doi:10.1167/iovs.10-6435

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Anderson DR, Hendrickson A (1974) Effect of intraocular pressure on rapid axoplasmic transport in monkey optic nerve. Invest Ophthalmol 13(10):771–783

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Quigley H, Anderson DR (1976) The dynamics and location of axonal transport blockade by acute intraocular pressure elevation in primate optic nerve. Invest Ophthalmol 15(8):606–616

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Dandona L, Hendrickson A, Quigley HA (1991) Selective effects of experimental glaucoma on axonal transport by retinal ganglion cells to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 32(5):1593–1599

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Pease ME, McKinnon SJ, Quigley HA, Kerrigan-Baumrind LA, Zack DJ (2000) Obstructed axonal transport of BDNF and its receptor TrkB in experimental glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41(3):764–774

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Quigley HA, McKinnon SJ, Zack DJ, Pease ME, Kerrigan-Baumrind LA, Kerrigan DF, Mitchell RS (2000) Retrograde axonal transport of BDNF in retinal ganglion cells is blocked by acute IOP elevation in rats. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 41(11):3460–3466

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Martin KR, Quigley HA, Valenta D, Kielczewski J, Pease ME (2006) Optic nerve dynein motor protein distribution changes with intraocular pressure elevation in a rat model of glaucoma. Exp Eye Res 83(2):255–262. doi:10.1016/j.exer.2005.11.025

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Buckingham BP, Inman DM, Lambert W, Oglesby E, Calkins DJ, Steele MR, Vetter ML, Marsh-Armstrong N, Horner PJ (2008) Progressive ganglion cell degeneration precedes neuronal loss in a mouse model of glaucoma. J Neurosci 28(11):2735–2744. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.4443-07.2008

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Salinas-Navarro M, Alarcon-Martinez L, Valiente-Soriano FJ, Ortin-Martinez A, Jimenez-Lopez M, Aviles-Trigueros M, Villegas-Perez MP, de la Villa P, Vidal-Sanz M (2009) Functional and morphological effects of laser-induced ocular hypertension in retinas of adult albino Swiss mice. Mol Vis 15:2578–2598

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Crish SD, Sappington RM, Inman DM, Horner PJ, Calkins DJ (2010) Distal axonopathy with structural persistence in glaucomatous neurodegeneration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 107(11):5196–5201. doi:10.1073/pnas.0913141107

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Levi-Montalcini R, Hamburger V (1951) Selective growth stimulating effects of mouse sarcoma on the sensory and sympathetic nervous system of the chick embryo. J Exp Zool 116(2):321–361

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Barde YA, Edgar D, Thoenen H (1982) Purification of a new neurotrophic factor from mammalian brain. EMBO J 1(5):549–553

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Kohara K, Kitamura A, Morishima M, Tsumoto T (2001) Activity-dependent transfer of brain-derived neurotrophic factor to postsynaptic neurons. Science 291(5512):2419–2423. doi:10.1126/science.1057415, United States

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Pearson HE, Stoffler DJ (1992) Retinal ganglion cell degeneration following loss of postsynaptic target neurons in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the adult cat. Exp Neurol 116(2):163–171

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Johnson JE, Barde YA, Schwab M, Thoenen H (1986) Brain-derived neurotrophic factor supports the survival of cultured rat retinal ganglion cells. J Neurosci 6(10):3031–3038

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Mansour-Robaey S, Clarke DB, Wang YC, Bray GM, Aguayo AJ (1994) Effects of ocular injury and administration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor on survival and regrowth of axotomized retinal ganglion cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 91(5):1632–1636

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Cheng L, Sapieha P, Kittlerova P, Hauswirth WW, Di Polo A (2002) TrkB gene transfer protects retinal ganglion cells from axotomy-induced death in vivo. J Neurosci 22(10):3977–3986

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medical Science, University of Fukui, 23-3 Shimoaizuki, Matsuoka, Eiheiji, Yoshida, Fukui, 910-1193, Japan

    Yuji Takihara & Masaru Inatani

Authors
  1. Yuji Takihara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Masaru Inatani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuji Takihara .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan

    Toru Nakazawa

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan

    Yasushi Kitaoka

  3. Visual Research Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Inst of Med Sci, Tokyo, Japan

    Takayuki Harada

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Japan

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Takihara, Y., Inatani, M. (2014). Axonal Transport. In: Nakazawa, T., Kitaoka, Y., Harada, T. (eds) Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration for Retinal Diseases. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54965-9_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54965-9_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-54964-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-54965-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation