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Experience-dependent central vision deficits: Neurobiology and visual acuity
Kate Williams1, Justin L Balsor1, Simon Beshara1
1McMaster Integrative Neuroscience Discovery and Study Program, McMaster University, Canada.
Vision Research
|February 11, 2015
Summary
Monocular deprivation (MD) in cats rapidly reduces α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors in the visual cortex. Long-term deficits in central binocular vision result from this sustained receptor loss.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
- Visual system research
Background:
- Childhood visual abnormalities like amblyopia are linked to binocular dysfunction and reduced visual acuity.
- The role of the non-deprived eye in amblyopia and the effects of monocular deprivation (MD) on binocular function remain areas of investigation.
- Previous research in MD cats indicated a loss of excitatory receptors in the central visual cortex (V1).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the time course of excitatory receptor loss in V1 following MD.
- To determine if MD induces binocular dysfunction comparable to amblyopia.
- To assess the impact of MD on binocular acuity, particularly in the central visual field.
Main Methods:
- Monocular deprivation (MD) was applied to cats for varying durations.
- Changes in α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor proteins in the visual cortex (V1) were quantified.
- Binocular acuity was tested in animals with early MD followed by extended binocular vision.
Main Results:
- A few hours of MD led to a rapid, widespread loss of AMPA receptor proteins across V1.
- After several days, AMPA receptor levels recovered in the visual periphery, but remained low in the central V1.
- Animals with early MD and subsequent binocular vision exhibited significant binocular acuity deficits, most pronounced centrally.
Conclusions:
- Early monocular deprivation causes rapid and then sustained loss of AMPA receptors in the central visual cortex.
- Long-term deficits in central binocular acuity following MD are partly attributable to this persistent loss of AMPA receptors in V1.
- MD can induce binocular dysfunction similar to amblyopia, highlighting the impact on visual cortex development.
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