Neuroscientists at City University of Hong Kong have restored the eyesight of mice with a drug that stimulates optic nerve regeneration. The results of the research were published in the journal PNAS.
Traumatic damage to the optic nerve often leads to irreversible loss of visual function. Nerve regeneration is an energy-consuming process that requires the active transport of mitochondria (the cell’s powerhouses) to damaged neuronal growths – axons. These structures are responsible for transmitting signals between neurons as well as between the brain, muscles and organs.
Mitochondria transport in axons in adults is practically absent. Scientists have identified M1, a small molecule that can increase mitochondrial motility, triggering axonal regeneration.
The effect of M1 was evaluated four weeks after optic nerve injury in mice. Axons in M1-treated mice grew by about 4 mm, while regenerated axons were not found in untreated control mice.
Also, after a course of treatment, the mice regained their normal pupillary constriction reflex in response to bright light. Additionally, the scientists evaluated the mice’s response to an approaching stimulus, a visual innate defensive response designed to avoid predators. Half of the M1-treated mice responded to the stimulus and were housed.
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Source: Gazeta
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