The vertebrate visual system is a valuable model for examining recovery after injury to the central nervous system (CNS). It is a relatively "simple" part of the CNS having one major class of projection neuron, the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which make topographic connections within well defined visual nuclei, thus recreating visual space within the brain. Topographic maps can be readily assessed electrophysiologically and anatomically and are a critical template for useful visually guided behaviour which can be examined behaviourally. Furthermore, the optic nerve is accessible, an extra-foramenal crush injury severing all RGC axons but leaving the meningeal sheath intact as a conduit for regeneration and preventing gross axonal mis-routing. The procedure also leaves the blood supply to the eye patent, avoiding ischaemic-induced RGC death.

Item Type:	Research Book Chapter
Keywords:	Optic nerve regeneration, training, molecules, eph, ephrin
Research Division:	Medical and Health Sciences
Research Group:	Neurosciences
Research Field:	Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Clinical Health (Organs, Diseases and Abnormal Conditions)
Objective Field:	Nervous System and Disorders
UTAS Author:	King, Carolyn (Dr Carolyn King)
ID Code:	99050
Year Published:	2006
Deposited By:	Health Sciences B
Deposited On:	2015-03-11
Last Modified:	2015-05-21
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