DECREASE OF ZIF-268 AND C-FOS AND INCREASE OF C-JUN MESSENGER-RNA IN THE CAT AREA-17, AREA-18 AND AREA-19 FOLLOWING COMPLETE VISUAL DEAFFERENTATION

We used in situ hybridization to investigate the effect of complete vi sual deafferentation on immediate early gene expression in adult cat v isual cortex. Deafferentation was obtained by unilateral section of th e optic tract and sections of both the corpus callosum and anterior co mmissure. In this model, one hemisphere served as control for the othe r within the same animal. A decrease in zinc finger protein (zif)-268 and c-fos mRNA was observed in the superficial and deep layers of area s 17 and 18, and all layers of area 19 in the deafferented hemisphere. This decrease, present 3 days after surgery, was maximal after 30 day s. An increase of c-jun mRNA was observed in the deep layers of areas 17, 18 and 19 in the deafferented hemisphere 3, 10 and 30 days after s urgery. These results suggest that visual input activates zif-268 and c-fos expression and tonically depresses c-jun expression in the prima ry visual complex yielding similar levels of c-jun and c-fos expressio n in normal conditions.