Objective:To observe the effects of testosterone on optic nerve an d retinal ganglion cells (RGC) in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE ). Methods:Fourty one female Wistar rats were randomly divide d into 3 groups: the normal group (10 rats), the untreated control group (15 rats) and the testos terone group (16 rats). The rats in the first two groups were fed with 1% ethano l every day, and the rats in the testosterone group were fed with methyltestoste rone (0.25 mg/kg) every day. On the 20th day, EAE model was induced in the untre ated control group and the testosterone group by injecting guinea pig spinal cor d homogenate in complete Freund's adjuvant and bordetella pertussis vaccine. RGC were labeled with flurogold (FG) by injecting it in superior colliculus and lat eral geniculate body 7 days before establishing EAE model. All rats were fed wit h drugs continuously, and after 1430 days, rats in normal group and rats in un t reated control and testosterone groups who had symptoms within 48～72 hours were observed by light microscopy and flash visual evoked potential (FVEP) to detect the functional and morphological changes of optic nerve. The number of RGC was counted by fluorescence microscopy，and apoptosis of RGC was observed by termina l deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated biotinylated UTP nick end labeling (TUN E L) Results:EAE rats presented weakness or paralysis of tail a nd hind limbs 10 days after establishing EAE model. Compared with the rats in the untreated contr ol group, the rats in the testosterone group had longer disease delitescence and lower clinical score (P=0.042). Extensive demyelination of optic nerves wi th the circuitous configuration was found in the untreated control group; while mild demyelination of optic nerves with regular figure was found in the testosterone group. In the testosterone group, the latency of N1、P and N2 wave was shorter w hile the amplitude ofN1-P and P-N2was higher than that in the untreated cont rol group (Plt;0.05). The number of RGC was (2284plusmn;132), (934plusmn;78, and (1725 plusmn;95)cells/mm2 in the normal, untreated control and testosterone groups, respectively; w hich was higher in testosterone group than that in untreated control group (P=0.028). The number of TUNEL positive cells was (4.02plusmn;0.16), (24.44plusmn;2.22), and (9.84plusmn;2.36) cells per high power field (times;400) in the 3 grou ps, respectively; wh ich was less in testosterone group than that in untreated control group (P＝0.025). Conclusions:Testosterone may reduce the incidence and clinical score of EAE, inhibit the apoptosis of RGC, alleviate the demyelinatio n of optic nerves, and improved the conduction function of optic nerves.
Objective To observe the characteristics of pupillary light reflex in the patients with retrobulbar neuritis, and to evaluate the effects of pupi llary light reflex on the diagnosis and treatment of retrobulbar neuritis. Methods Thirtyfive patients (thirtyfive eyes with the retrobulbar neuritis and thirtyfive fellow eyes) aged from 10 to 58 years and 50 healthy individuals (100 eyes) who didnlsquo;t differ from the patients in age and sex were examined by a automatic pupillometer. The pupillary area and response amplitude, latency and speed of papillary reflex were recorded. Results The latency of the pupillary light reflex delayed and the maximum amplitude decreased in patients with retrobulbar neuritis during the diseas eperiod, and the differences were highly significant compaired with the control group. After the treatment, as the symptoms were alleviated and the visual acuity improved, the latency of the pupillary light reflex and the maximum amplitude recovered. The statistic differences were both found between the results after treatment and those at the onset stage, and the results after treatment and those in the control group.Before the onset of the disease of the involued eyes and after the treatment, the papill ary light reflex and the maxium amplitude decreased, but didnamp;#146;t differe much from which in the control group. Conclusions The latency of the pupillary light reflex delayes and the maximum amplitude decreases in patients with retrobulbar neuritis. The examination of pupillary light reflex is helpful to diagnose retrobulbar neuritis early and inspect the condition of the disease. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis,2006,22:370-372)