Retinal axonal degeneration

Koeberle PD, Ball AK. 1999. Nitric oxide synthase inhibition delays axonal degeneration and promotes the survival of axotomized retinal ganglion cells. Exp Neurol 158 366-381. 

Results in degeneration of retinal ganglion cells and their axons, causing an acute or sub-acute loss of central vision affects predominantly young adult males. Due to one of three point mutations in the ND4, NDl or ND6 subunit genes of complex I. 

Acquired immunodeficiency renders a host much more susceptible to secondary infections, including cytomegalovirus, syphilis, herpes zoster, fungi, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, and toxoplasmosis. HIV invades the tissues of the optic nerve and initiates an immune complex-mediated response that results in an optic neittopathy. The primary HIV infection may be responsible for color vision defects, loss of contrast sensitivity, and visual field defects. HIV infection itself may also cause direct degeneration of retinal ganglion cell axons in the optic nerve without a secondary opportunistic infection. 

---