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Immunohistochemical study on the developing optic nerves in human embryos and fetuses
S Takayama1, M Yamamoto, K Hashimoto
1Department of Ophthalmology (ST), Kobe Children's Hospital, Japan.
Brain & Development
|September 1, 1991
Summary
Optic nerve development and myelination were studied in human fetuses. Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes play key roles in optic nerve growth and myelination during fetal development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Histology
Background:
- The development and myelination of the human optic nerve are critical for visual function.
- Understanding the timeline of these processes is essential for identifying developmental abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the timing of optic nerve development and myelination in human embryos and fetuses.
- To correlate the expression of key proteins with developmental stages.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical staining was applied to optic nerves from 26 human embryos and fetuses (6-39 weeks).
- Measurements of optic nerve diameter and protein localization (myelin basic protein and glial fibrillary acidic protein) were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Optic nerve diameter increased significantly with gestational age.
- Myelin basic protein (MBP) was first detected at 32 weeks, while glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was observed earlier in astrocytes.
- GFAP-positive astrocytes appeared within nerve fibers by 27 weeks, preceding MBP-positive oligodendrocytes by approximately 8 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are integral to optic nerve development and myelination.
- The sequential appearance of GFAP and MBP suggests a coordinated process of glial cell involvement in myelination.