Dynamic response to initial stage blindness in visual system development.

Autor: Erping Long, Xiayin Zhang, Zhenzhen Liu, Xiaohang Wu, Xuhua Tan, Duoru Lin, Qianzhong Cao, Jingjing Chen, Zhuoling Lin, Dongni Wang, Xiaoyan Li, Jing Li, Jinghui Wang, Wangting Li, Haotian Lin, Weirong Chen, Yizhi Liu
Zdroj: Clinical Science; Jul2017, Vol. 131 Issue 13, p1515-1527, 13p, 2 Color Photographs, 5 Graphs
Abstrakt: Sensitive periods and experience-dependent plasticity have become core issues in visual system development. Converging evidence indicates that visual experience is an indispensable factor in establishing mature visual system circuitry during sensitive periods and the visual system exhibits substantial plasticity while facing deprivation. The mechanisms that underlie the environmental regulation of visual system development and plasticity are of great interest but need further exploration. Here, we investigated a unique sample of human infants who experienced initial stage blindness (beginning at birth and lasting for 2–8 months) before the removal of bilateral cataracts. Retinal thickness (RT), axial length (AL), refractive status, visual grating acuity and genetic integrity were recorded during the preoperative period or at surgery and then during follow-up. The results showed that the development of the retina is malleable and associated with external environmental influences. Our work supported that the retina might play critical roles in the development of the experience-dependent visual system and its malleability might partly contribute to the sensitive period plasticity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index