Neurogenesis and Recovery of Visual Function After Blast Exposure

Abstract

The eye is an exposed organ that is particularly vulnerable to injuries that result from blast exposure. Typically, lost or damaged retinal neurons in adult mammals do not proliferate or spontaneously regenerate. However, in this study, the reversal of vision loss and neurogenesis of adult retinal neurons in mice is investigated after blast exposure using a specificalpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, PNU-282987, which has previously been shown to induce neurogenesis in glaucoma rodent models. In designed experiments, blast exposure is delivered to adult rodents to test the hypothesis that eyedrop application of PNU-282987 reverses the loss of retinal neurons associated with blast exposure and recovers visual function. The results of these studies can lead to eye drop treatments that significantly improve visual function for soldiers that experience blast exposure in combat to improve their quality of life. In addition, the results of these studies will challenge current ideas that maintain the adult mammalian CNS is incapable of regeneration.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2021
Accession Number
AD1154978

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  • Cindy Linn

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  • Western Michigan University

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  • Abstracts
  • Anatomy
  • Antibodies
  • Biomedical Research
  • Cells
  • Confocal Microscopy
  • Department Of Defense
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  • Nerves
  • Neurogenesis
  • Neurons
  • Optic Nerve
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  • Neuroscience
  • Neurotrauma and Rehabilitation Medicine.
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.