THE PATTERNS OF RETINAL GANGLION-CELL DEATH IN HYPERTENSIVE EYES

We have recently described a rat model of hypertensive eye in which ca uterizing limbal derived episcleral veins leads to increase in the int raocular pressure [S.R. Shareef, E. Garcia-Valenzuela, A. Salierno, J. Walsh, S.C. Sharma, Chronic ocular hypertension following episcleral venous occlusion in rats, Exp. Eye Res. 61 (1995) 379-382.]. We have f urther documented that retinal ganglion cell death is apoptotic [E. Ga rcia-Valenzuela, S. Shareef, J. Walsh, S.C. Sharma, Programmed cell de ath of retinal ganglion cells during experimental glaucoma, Exp. Eye R es. 61 (1995) 33-44.]. Here, we describe the total loss of retinal gan glion cells at various time intervals following increased IOP. At earl y time points death of ganglion cells in the central, peripheral retin a occurred with similar frequencies. Between 4-6 weeks after intraocul ar elevation, ganglion cells in the peripheral retina were more suscep tible than the central retina. Percentage of total ganglion cell death over the 10 week period was presumably linear and was about 4% per we ek. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.