Zhong-Dao Wu
Sun Yat-sen University, China
Title: The pathogenesis of optic neuritis caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis in SD rats and BALB/c mice
Biography
Biography: Zhong-Dao Wu
Abstract
It has been documented that infection with Angiostrongyliasis cantonensis can cause optic neuritis and lead to serious vision sequela however no systematic studies have been conducted in this area. We applied rats and mice with A. cantonensis infection as animal model to study the pathogenesis of optic neuritis caused by the infection. The SD rats and BALB/c mice were infected AC for 7d, 14d and 21d, respectively, then histological examination of retina and optic nerve, ophthalmoscope and ERG, VEP of experimental animals were applied. After that, dexamethasone combining with albendazole and tribendimidine (TBD) was used to treat the optic neuritis in rats and mice caused by AC respectively, and the therapy effects were evaluated. Our results showed obvious eosinophils (EOS) infiltration appeared in retina and optic nerve adventitia followed with obvious optic nerve fibers demyelination, retina ganglion cells swelling even death in infected rats and mice when applying histology observation. Moreover, optic disk of experimental rats appears hyperemia, retina vein became thicken and VEP latency prolonged; mice showed prolonged VEP latency and decreased ERG amplitude. In therapy process, the results showed dexamethasone combining with albendazole had no obvious effect to prevent progressive visual deterioration for optic neuritis caused by A. cantonensis in rats; tribendimidine can alleviate retinal and optic nerve inflammation, but can not improve VEP latency and ERG amplitude. Above results provided evidence that A. cantonensis really can cause optic neuritis and appear optic nerve demyelination and ganglion cell damaged with EOS infiltration and current therapy method have no distinct effect on vision recovery, which suggests us take consideration of protecting and nourishing optic nerve and ganglion cells in time to avoid of their in secondary injury may be necessary when treating infected patients. This measure may lessen serious ocular region sequela such as hypopsia even loss of vision.