The experiments were conducted on rodents
Physiologists from Stanford University was able to partially restore sight in mice with a torn eye nerves.
For this, they used a combination approach that includes both visual stimulation and the use of chemical substances.
In the eyes of most animals is the retina — a thin layer of light-sensitive cells. It contains photoreceptors that respond to light waves of different lengths, and ganglionic neurons. There are several dozen types of ganglion cells, each of which is responsible for processing specific visual information (the movement of objects or color).
In addition, they have processes — axons going into the optic nerve going to the brain.
According to scientists, if axons are severed, the brain ceases to receive visual information. At the same ganglionic neurons lack the ability to automatically regenerate. However, scientists have found a way to run recovery mechanisms, stimulating the signaling pathway of chains of molecules, including the protein TOR — controller of cell growth.
It is noted that the researchers subjected laboratory mice with damaged optic nerve to the action of substances that increase the activity of TOR. In addition, animals were shown a video with moving black and white lines.
The study, which lasted three weeks, the researchers assessed the ability of rodents to respond to certain visual stimuli, and were tested the degree of axonal regeneration.
The results showed that the majority of axons increased again, reaching the respective zones in the brain. However, visual recovery was incomplete because, as scientists believe, not all types of ganglion cells were able to reach the cerebral hemispheres.
