Spatiotemporal characterization of neurodegeneration in the visual system upon acute and chronic optic neuropathies using diffusion tensor MRI

Abstract

This study determined spatiotemporally the progression of microstructural disorganization in acute and chronic optic neuropathies of different severity using diffusion tensor MRI so as to better understand the mechanisms of pathological processes such as glutamate excitotoxicity, and in neurodegenerative diseases such as ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Our data suggested anterograde degeneration along the visual pathway upon acute glutamate excitotoxic retinal injury with varying rates of λ// and λ┴ changes along time. In addition, mild, early distal axonopathy might be detected in vivo along the visual pathway upon chronic ocular hypertension.