Reinnervation of primate ciliary muscle following ciliary ganglionectomy.

PubMed ID: 3583631

Author(s): Erickson-Lamy KA, Kaufman PL. Reinnervation of primate ciliary muscle following ciliary ganglionectomy. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1987 Jun;28(6):927-33. Erratum in: Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 1987 Aug;28(8):1235.

Journal: Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Volume 28, Issue 6, Jun 1987

Ciliary ganglionectomy and/or postganglionic ciliary neurectomy in the cynomolgus monkey was followed by supersensitivity to intramuscular (i.m.) pilocarpine and lack of response to topical eserine and to electrical stimulation of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus. Normal responsiveness to pilocarpine and eserine returned in most instances after about 6 months. An accommodative response to stimulus of the Edinger-Westphal nucleus was also present and, as in control eyes, could be blocked by hexamethonium. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that parasympathetic innervation to the ciliary muscle mediating accommodation traverses a typical peripheral autonomic synapse, almost certainly located predominantly in the ciliary ganglion; by 6 months after denervation, the ciliary muscles have reinnervated; and the parasympathetic pathway to the eye exhibits plasticity and capacity for regeneration.