In the optic nerve, MBV also prevented IOP-induced decreases in growth associated protein-43 and IOP-induced increases in glial fibrillary acidic protein.
Overexpression of GAP-43 in RGC cell bodies and axons via bicistronic AAV-GAP-43 led to more severe RGC death (260±112 cells/mm²) in IOP elevated eyes, an 80% loss of the total RGC population.