Bcl-2 is not required in retinal ganglion cells surviving optic nerve axotomy

Axotomy of the optic nerve in rodents induces the majority of retinal gangl ion cells (RGCs) to undergo apoptosis: Only 10-15% survive 14 days past les ion. The molecular mechanism allowing this survival is not known. To test w hether expression of the anti-apoptotic proto-oncogene bcl-2 gene is requir ed in those RGCs, we examined the effect of optic nerve axotomy in bcl-2(-/ -) mice. 7 days and 14 days post-lesion, the same number of surviving RGCs was detected in mutant and wild type retinas. Thus, the bcl-2 gene is not n ecessary for the survival of the subpopulation of retinal ganglion cells re sisting axotomy-induced apoptosis in adult mice, nor does its normal expres sion delay retinal ganglion cell degeneration. NeuroReport 12:3353-3356 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.