Optic nerve transection in cats. II. Effect on vessels of optic nerve head and lamina cribrosa.

I n a prior communication we demonstrated that transection of the optic nerve of the cat with consequent retrograde neuronal degeneration did not lead to alteration of the ipsilateral retinal vasculature. We interpreted this to mean that retinal neuronal degeneration does not, of itself, cause an associated vascular degeneration. In the present study the vasculature of the optic disc region of the cat was examined after optic nerve transection.