Strabismic Amblyopia In Cat Visual Cortex Area 17 Of The Fos Protein Expression And Treatment Performance

Objective To observe the changes of Fos protein expression in visual cortex (VC) and Pattern Visual Evoked Potential(P-VEP)before and after occlusion of the non-deviated eye in strabismus amblyopia cats, and to study the relationship between the inducibility of Fos protein and the neural activity level in VC of amblyopia cats. Methods Thirty normal kittens (about 4 weeks old) were divided into three groups randomly. Twelve kittens were operated with mycetomy the external rectus muscle of right eyes in 4 weeks age, then perfused after 4 weeks and 12 weeks. Occluded kittens were operated as done in strabismus kittens, then the non-deviated eyes were occluded after 4 weeks, perfused in 16 weeks age. Control groups were perfused in 8 and 16 weeks. VEP was recorded every 4 weeks. Results the density of FOS-immunoreactive cells in normal kittens was higher than in strabismic and occluded kittens at same age. VEP record show that the amplitude of wave P1 was high but its latent time was shorter in normal kittens than strabismic and occluded kittens at the same age (P<0.05). While occluding the non-deviated eye can improve the density of FOS-immunoreactive cells and change amplitude and latent time of VEP. Conclusions FOS protein expression in zone 17 of VC changed in straismic amblyopia cats and improved after occlusion of the non-deviated eyes. The same changes can be seen in VEP. FOS immunohistochemical method is an experimental method, which can contact the activity of neural cells with its location in VC and evaluate the alterations of vision functions in amblyopia.