Inducing Local Demyelination in the Optic Nerve Using Lysolecithin

Begin with an anesthetized rat and make an incision above the eye orbit.

Dissect the subcutaneous tissue to access the orbital cavity, which contains the optic nerve.

Under a microscope, dissect the conjunctiva, followed by the underlying connective tissue.

Then, retract the surrounding muscles and the gland. Cut the protective layers to expose the optic nerve.

The optic nerve consists of lipid-rich myelinated nerve fibers that transmit electrical signals.

Next, take a pre-assembled glass micropipette filled with lysolecithin, a lipid-disrupting agent, and a dye for visual tracking.

Insert the micropipette into the exposed optic nerve and inject the lysolecithin.

Suture the skin incision and apply antibiotic ointment to prevent infection, then allow the rat to recover.

In the optic nerve, injected lysolecithin disrupts the integrity of the myelin sheath surrounding the nerve fibers.

This results in localized demyelination, reducing signal transmission through the optic nerve.