The Differences Of Fos Protein And C-fos Gene Expression In Lateral Geniculate Nucleus After Monocular Deprivation

Objective: To observe the changes of Fos protein and c-fos gene expression in Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) after monocular deprivation to investigate the neural activity and the morphological changes of the LGN of the amblyopic cats .Method: Normal kittens whose left eyes were sutured at about 4 weeks after birth and the amblyopic was performed. Useing Nissl dyeing and the technique of electron microscope ,we analysised the change of morphological, while to observe the changes of Fos protein and c-fos gene expression in LGN with immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization.Result: The cells in the LGN of the deprived eyes (deprived cells) were smaller than those by the undeprived eyes,(p<0.01) .The change of ultrastructure is that a great deal of the visual deprived cells degenerated and died in a month of monocular deprivation, the amount of mitochrondria is reduced, and the mitochrondria cristae is not clear and granulization. In LGN of normal kittens, Fos protein immunopositive cells were reduced with the age increased . The immunopositive cells of deprived were reduced than the normal' s. Although the OD of immunopositive cells of undeprived eyes were higher than the deprived' s, it is not normal. The difference of Fos protein expression among the givengroups is significant, (p<0.01). The result of c-fos gene expression is consistent with Fos protein' s. (p<0.01).Conclusion: The most plasticity of visual acuity is from one month to two month after birth in cats. Fos protein and c-fos gene expression in LGN has changed significantly, and the method of Fos immunocytochemistry and c-fos in situ hybridization is useful in analysising the neural activity and the morphological changes of the LGN of the amblyopic cats, but we must consider the effect of the plasticity of visual acuity.