Abstract:

Abstract:Objective To study the expression of growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) after optic nerve transection injury in visual system of neonatal rats and its significance. Methods The healthy neonatal SD rats (24 h) were randomly divided into normal control group and optic nerve transection injury group. Immunohistochemical staining technique was used to detect the expressions of GAP-43 in normal and optic nerve transection injury visual system of neonatal rats at 1,3,7,14,28,56 d after birth. Results The positive expression of GAP-43 in  normal control group was found in  visual system of  neonatal rats at developing stage and with  the  neurons mature the expression of GAP-43 was decreased(P<0.05). The positive expression of GAP-43 in  optic nerve transection injury group was found and was higher  than that in  normal control group.There was no significant change at 1 d,the expression of GAP-43 in optic nerve transection injury group was increased at 3 d and reached peak at 7-14 d,then it was gradually decreased to normal level until 56 d. Conclusion The expression of GAP-43 in visual system of neonatal rats changes with the development. The expression of GAP-43 is increased after optic nerve transection injury. This result suggests that GAP-43 may play an important role in the developing and regeneration of visual system.

Key words: growth associated protein; , visual system;rats,Sprague-dawley