Abstract:

Objective   To establish an experimental cat model of optic nerve damage and optic nerve decompression similar to traumatic optic neuropathy by a transnasal endoscopic approach. Methods  The sphenoidal sinus was opened and then fracture of the optic canal was made by transnasal endoscopy with a hammer in 20 domestic cats, and optic nerve decompression was made 8 hours later.  Photo-visual evoked potential (P-VEP) was made at anterior and posterior optic nerve injuries. Results   Fracture of the optic canal was observed by transnasal endoscopy while being damaged. P-VEP showed that the incubation period was lengthened after optic nerve damage,  and the amplitude was reduced. Incubation and amplitude of P-VEP after optic nerve decompression recovered in various degrees in 70% of the domestic cats.  Conclusions   The animal model has close biological characteristics to traumatic optic neuropathy of humans, and it is an ideal model to study optic nerve damage and decompression.

Key words: Optic nerve； Cats； Animal model； Endoscopy