Electrical brain stimulation induces dendritic stripping but improves survival of silent neurons after optic nerve damage.

ABSTRACT: Repetitive transorbital alternating current stimulation (rtACS) improves vision in patients with chronic visual impairments and an acute treatment increased survival of retinal neurons after optic nerve crush (ONC) in rodent models of visual system injury. However, despite this protection no functional recovery could be detected in rats, which was interpreted as evidence of "silent survivor" cells. We now analysed the mechanisms underlying this "silent survival" effect. Using in vivo microscopy of the retina we investigated the survival and morphology of fluorescent neurons before and after ONC in animals receiving rtACS or sham treatment. One week after the crush, more neurons survived in the rtACS-treated group compared to sham-treated controls. In vivo imaging further revealed that in t

SUBMITTER: Henrich-Noack P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5428431 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature