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Updated: Feb 18, 2026
Monocular Visual Deprivation and Ocular Dominance Plasticity Measurement in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex
Published on: February 8, 2020
BDNF expression in cat striate cortex is regulated by binocular pattern deprivation.
Karolina Laskowska-Macios1, Lutgarde Arckens2, Małgorzata Kossut3
1Laboratory of Neuroplasticity, Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Early visual deprivation impairs motion perception. Binocular pattern deprivation (BD) increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA in central visual cortex, potentially reactivating plasticity after vision restoration.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Visual System Development
Background:
- Early visual deprivation, such as congenital cataracts, severely impacts global motion perception.
- Previous research indicated delayed maturation of the peripheral visual field representation in the primary visual cortex (area 17).
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is crucial for visual system development and is sensitive to early visual experience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of binocular pattern deprivation (BD) on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the visual cortex.
- To determine the timing of maturation-related BDNF expression in central versus peripheral visual field representations.
- To compare the effects of different BD durations and onset times on BDNF levels.
Main Methods:
- Utilized quantitative RT-PCR to measure BDNF mRNA levels in cats.
- Compared central and peripheral visual field representations in area 17 across different age groups (1, 2, 4, 6 months, adult).
- Employed four BD strategies: early onset (2, 4, 6 months) and late onset (2 months after 2 months normal vision).
Main Results:
- BDNF transcript levels remained stable during normal cortical development.
- Higher BDNF mRNA levels were observed in the central area 17 of cats subjected to early onset BD (2BD and 6BD) compared to controls.
- Peripheral visual field representation matures slower than the central counterpart.
- Normal visual input following BD upregulated BDNF mRNA in the central area 17, suggesting a mechanism for initiating plastic adaptations.
Conclusions:
- Binocular pattern deprivation affects BDNF expression in a region-specific manner within the visual cortex.
- Elevated BDNF in the central visual cortex after deprivation may facilitate recovery of visual function upon readmission of visual input.
- These findings highlight the differential maturation rates of central and peripheral visual processing and the role of BDNF in visual plasticity.
