CNTF promotes the regrowth or retinal ganglion cell axons into murine peripheral nerve grafts

Autologous peripheral nerves were transplanted onto transected optic nerves of adult mice. We examined whether intraocular CNTF injections increased r etinal ganglion cell (RGC) axon regeneration, and what types of RGCs regrew axons into grafts. After temporal CNTF eye injections there were more fluo rogold-labelled regenerating RGCs (mean +/- s.e.m. 342 +/- 113.1; n = 6) th an in sham eye-injected mice (133 +/- 27.6; n = 8). Greater numbers of rege nerating RGCs (1198 +/- 367.6; n = 6) were seen in mice receiving both nasa l and temporal CNTF injections. The range of soma areas in regenerate and n ormal retinas was similar but the average size of regenerating RGCs was gre ater (212 mum(2) vs 111 mum(2)). Most regenerating RGCs had large dendritic fields. The data suggest RGCs preferentially regrowing axons into PN graft s. NeuroReport 11:3999-4002 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.