Extreme sensitivity of myelinating optic nerve axons in a rodent model of perinatal ischemic injury

Abstract

Cerebral white matter injury (WMI) is increasingly recognized as a common form of perinatal brain injury that predisposes to cerebral palsy as well as cognitive and learning disabilities. Despite the growing impact of WMI, it is unclear whether common cellular and molecular mechanisms define WMI pathogenesis in preterm and term neonates. Although numerous studies have defined a role for glial vulnerability in WMI, there has been limited study of the susceptibility of immature axons.