Expression And Significance Of GAP-43 MRNA In The Retina Of Normal Rats And Monocularly Deprived Rats During Development

Objective: To investigate the expression of GAP-43mRNA in the retina of normal rats and monocularly deprived rats during their development period, to offer evidence for probing into the mechanism of amblyopia and seeking out effective clinical methods to prevent and treat amblyopia .Methods: 1,Use Real-time quantitative RT-PCR to investigate the expression of GAP-43mRNA in the retina of normal rats at the age of postnatal 14days(P 14) , P 21, P28, P 45.2,Monocularly deprived rats model was established by suturing the eyelids of one eye of postnatal 14 days rats. Use Real-time quantitative RT-PCR to investigate the expression of GAP-43mRNA in the retina of monocularly deprived rats at the age of postnatal 21days(M 21) , 45days(M45).Results: 1,The expression of GAP-43mRNA in the retina of normal rats has certain pattern:P14 is relatively low, P21 the highest, P28 the second, and P45 the lowest.2,The retinal level of GAP-43mRNA in P21 is apparently higher than that in M21 (P<0.05);3,The retinal level of GAP-43mRNA in P45 is apparently higher than that in M45 (P<0.05).Conclusion: 1,There is a close correlation between GAP-43mRNA expression in the retina of normal rats and the time course of the critical period during development.2,GAP-43 mRNA expression in the retina is in relation to visual experience during development:Normal visual experience may facilitate the visual nervous system through the up-regulation of GAP-43mRNA while abnormal experience,such as monocular deprivation leads to an apparent downregulation of GAP-43mRNA and interupts normal process of visual development.3,It is possible that the occurance of amblyopia is related to the abnormity of the retina;the role of GAP-43 in visual system is possibly one of the molecular biology basis of occurance of amblyopia.