NF-κB Activation Following Optic Nerve Transection

In order to elucidate in vivo neuronal cell death in the retina, and involvement of NF-κB in this process, we studied the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and the activation of NF-κB after transection of the optic nerve of adult rat at 5mm from the eyeball. The morphology of dying ganglion cells in the retinal ganglion cell layer was observed by light and electron microscopy, the activation of NF-κB was investigated immunohistochemically. Seven and 14 days post-axotomy, dying cells contained pyknotic nuclei. The death of retinal ganglion cells involved apoptosis, activation of NF-κB (p50 and p65) was prominent in a time dependent manner. We observed axotomy-induced NF-κB activation, which may mediate apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells.