Identifying and manipulating molecular changes following neurotrauma in the visual system

Secondary degeneration following an initial injury to neural tissue results in increased tissue loss and widespread functional impairments. This thesis characterised the mechanisms of secondary degeneration versus primary injury in the retina and documented cytoskeletal changes in the optic nerve. It determined that axonal integrity could be acutely protected using a combination of ion channel inhibitors. Neuroprotection was demonstrated using vector-mediated delivery of BDNF and/or CRMP2T555A, however there were some important differences in efficacy, presumably reflecting the different biological activities of BDNF and CRMP2 and the degenerative sequalae of primary and secondary degeneration.