c-fos, egr-1, bcl-2 and c-jun Decreases in Visual Cortex of Cats with Monocular Visual Deprivation

Objective: To investigate the expression of c-fos,egr-1,c-jun,bcl-2 genes in both visual cortex of kittens with Monocular Visual Deprivation (MVD) respectively, at postnatal 4, 12, 24 weeks, containing the “Critical Period” for visual system. Materials and Method: the right eyelids of experimental kittens (1-week-old) were sutured completely; RT-PCR was used to assay the level of mRNA for these four genes. Result: The level of c-fosmRNA and egr-lmRNA decreased in left visual cortex at 4 weeks postnatal MVD, and bcl-2 gene related to apoptosis decreased the same as c-fos and egr-1 , but appeared at 24 weeks, it is difference that the level of c-junmRNA decreased in bilateral visual cortexes at postnatal 12 weeks, bcl-2 decreased in left visual cortex at postnatal 24 weeks. It showed significant between the experimental group and control group, and showed the significant between ipsilateral visual cortex and contralateral visual cortex. Conclusion: c-fos, egr-1, bcl-2 decrease in contralateral visual cortex and c-jun decreases in bilateral visual cortex of amblyopic cats with Monocular Visual Deprivation