Figure 6

BMD partially preserves anterograde transport following acute IOP elevation. (A) Representative cross-section through medial superficial superior colliculus (left, outlined) from naïve rat showing normal RGC anterograde transport of CTB (green). Corresponding retinotopic map reconstructed from serial cross-sections through the colliculus (right) shows representation of optic disc gap (circle). Colorimetric scale indicates levels of transport from 100% (red) to 50% (green) to 0% (blue). (B) Comparable colliculus section (left) and retinotopic map (right) corresponding to vehicle control eye also shows intact transport. (C) Sections of colliculus corresponding to OHT eye in vehicle group show deficits ranging from sectorial (arrowheads on left) to complete loss (right). Corresponding retinotopic maps were 58% (left) and 7% (right) intact, respectively. (D) Colliculus from OHT eye in BMD-treated rats show range of rescued transport from complete (left) to modest (85% intact, right). (E) CTB transport in colliculus calculated as the fraction of the retinotopic map with ≥70% maximum signal for three groups (mean ± SEM; n = 11 each). Naïve group represents transport to the left and right colliculi. OHT decreased CTB transport 70% in vehicle-treated rats (*, p = 0.001) but only 35% in BMD-treated animals (*, p = 0.004). BMD significantly improved transport with OHT when compared to vehicle eyes (**, p = 0.002).