Electrical stimulation enhances the survival of axotomized retinal ganglion cells in vivo.

In view of recent reports on the survival promotion of damaged spiral ganglion cells and motoneurons by electrical stimulation, we hypothesized that an electrical stimulation of the cut optic nerve (ON) may promote the survival of axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in vivo. To test this hypothesis, we examined 1 week after ON transection the RGC densities in the retinas with or without electrical stimulation. The densities of surviving RGCs in the retinas with the electrical stimulation increased as compared with those without the electrical stimulation. We concluded that electrical stimulation of the ON enhances the survival of axotomized RGCs in vivo, probably due to electrical activation of their soma.