Optic Nerve Changes in Zinc-Deficient Rats
April 2001
in “
Experimental Eye Research
”
TLDR Zinc is essential for healthy optic nerves, and its deficiency can damage them.
This study investigated the effects of zinc deficiency on the optic nerves of Wistar Kyoto rats. Rats on a zinc-deficient diet showed significantly decreased serum zinc levels, hair loss around the eyes and extremities, and notable changes in optic nerve structure. Specifically, there was a significant decrease in myelinated axons and thinner myelin sheaths, with an increase in unmyelinated axons and glial cell proliferation. Even after zinc was reintroduced, myelin destruction persisted. The findings suggested that zinc is crucial for maintaining optic nerve cell structure, and zinc deficiency could contribute to optic neuropathy, potentially exacerbated by certain drugs like ethambutol.
