ObjectiveTo explore the histopathological changes of the pigs′ eyes in vivo after radial optic neurotomy (RON), and provide the experimental foundation for the safety of RON.MethodsA total of 12 healthy miniature pigs were used in the experiment, in whom 8 were executed at the 1st, 3rd , 7th , and 48th day respectively after underwent RON in both eyes, and 4 were executed at the 120th day after underwent RON unilaterally (the other eye was as the control in 2 and underwent single vitrectomy in 2). All the enucleated eyes were cut in sections routinely and embeded in paraffin. The sections were stained by HE, Masson trichrome staining or Luxol fast blue staining and the different sections of optic nerve were observed by light microscope.ResultsNo damages of the major vessel wall were found and the cerebral pia mater of orbital optic nerves kept integrated. At the 1st day after the operation, the incisions came into being and local hemorrhages infiltrated into the circumambience and backside. The vacuole-like change induced by the demyelination of optic nerve fiber located at the incisions. At the 3rdday, the vacuolelike changes widened. At the 7thday, the fibroblasts aggregated at the incision, with hyperplastic neuroglia cells and dispersed pigmented granules. Lymphocytes and monocytes were the major infiltrated inflammatory cells. At the 48th day, collagen filled in the incisions and aggregated neuroglia cells of the rear optic nerves behind the incision were found, which showed weak staining with obvious boundary which was somewhat beyond the midline of optic nerves. At the 120th day, localized atrophy of optic nerve occurred under the incision. No abnormal pathological findings were found in the normal eyes and the eyes underogo vitrectomy.ConclusionsLocalized atrophy of optic nerves comes into being after the normal pig eyes in vivo underwent RON. The surgery is safe to some extent.(Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2005,21:13-15)

Citation： TAO Yong,JIANG Yanrong,LI Xiaoxin,et al.. Histopathological study after radial optic neurotomy in pigs′ eyes in vivo. Chinese Journal of Ocular Fundus Diseases, 2005, 21(1): 13-15. doi: Copy