OBJECTIVE: To study the density and cross-sectional area of axons in the optic nerve in elderly control subjects and in cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using an image analysis system. METHODS: Sections of optic nerves from control and AD patients were stained with toluidine blue to reveal axon profiles. RESULTS: The density of axons was reduced in both the center and peripheral portions of the optic nerve in AD compared with control patients. Analysis of axons with different cross-sectional areas suggested a specific loss of the smaller sized axons in AD, i.e., those with areas less that 1.99 microm2. An analysis of axons >11 microm2 in cross-sectional area suggested no specific loss of the larger axons in this group of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that image analysis provides an accurate and reproducible method of quantifying axons in the optic nerve. In addition, the data suggest that axons are lost throughout the optic nerve with a specific loss of the smaller-sized axons. Loss of the smaller axons may explain the deficits in color vision observed in a significant proportion of patients with AD.
OBJECTIVE: To study the density and cross-sectional area of axons in the optic nerve in elderly control subjects and in cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using an image analysis system. METHODS: Sections of optic nerves from control and ADpatients were stained with toluidine blue to reveal axon profiles. RESULTS: The density of axons was reduced in both the center and peripheral portions of the optic nerve in AD compared with control patients. Analysis of axons with different cross-sectional areas suggested a specific loss of the smaller sized axons in AD, i.e., those with areas less that 1.99 microm2. An analysis of axons >11 microm2 in cross-sectional area suggested no specific loss of the larger axons in this group of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that image analysis provides an accurate and reproducible method of quantifying axons in the optic nerve. In addition, the data suggest that axons are lost throughout the optic nerve with a specific loss of the smaller-sized axons. Loss of the smaller axons may explain the deficits in color vision observed in a significant proportion of patients with AD.
Authors: Lloyd M Cuzzo; Fred N Ross-Cisneros; Kenneth M Yee; Michelle Y Wang; Alfredo A Sadun Journal: J Neuroophthalmol Date: 2011-06 Impact factor: 3.042
Authors: Ebrahim Jafarzadehpur; Hassan Hashemi; Mohammad Hassan Emamian; Mehdi Khabazkhoob; Shiva Mehravaran; Mohammad Shariati; Akbar Fotouhi Journal: Int Ophthalmol Date: 2014-02-14 Impact factor: 2.031
Authors: R Michael Dutescu; Qiao-Xin Li; Jonathan Crowston; Colin L Masters; Paul N Baird; Janetta G Culvenor Journal: Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol Date: 2009-03-07 Impact factor: 3.117
Authors: Elena Salobrar-García; Rosa de Hoz; Ana I Ramírez; Inés López-Cuenca; Pilar Rojas; Ravi Vazirani; Carla Amarante; Raquel Yubero; Pedro Gil; María D Pinazo-Durán; Juan J Salazar; José M Ramírez Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-08-15 Impact factor: 3.240