Purpose: We aimed to analyze the changes in the visual cortex of a ferret model of ocular hypertension (OH) using cytochrome oxidase (CO) staining.
Study design: Experimental.
Methods: OH was induced in 9 ferrets by means of injection of cultured conjunctival cells into the anterior chamber of the right eye. Three ferrets were used as the controls. CO staining was performed to assess the metabolic intensity at the II-III and IVC layers of the visual cortex.
Results: The intensities of CO staining in the right and left II-III layers of the primary visual cortex (V1) in the OH ferrets were 39.8 ± 10.3 and 41.9 ± 9.2 arbitrary units, respectively. In the control ferrets, the intensity was 88.1 ± 8.1 arbitrary units. The intensity of CO staining of the II-III layers obtained from the OH eyes was significantly lower than that from the control eyes (unpaired t test, P < .01). The intensities of CO staining in the right and left IVC layers of V1 in the OH ferrets were 60.3 ± 12.8 and 60.0 ± 13.5 arbitrary units, respectively. In the control ferrets, the intensity was 111.4 ± 9.6 arbitrary units. The CO staining intensity of the IVC layer obtained from the OH eyes was significantly lower than that from the control eyes (unpaired t test, P < .01).
Conclusion: The CO staining intensity was reduced in the visual cortex from OH eyes. This study revealed that OH causes metabolic change in the visual cortex.
Keywords: Cortex; Ferret; Glaucomatous optic neuropathy; Lateral geniculate nucleus; Ocular hypertension.
© 2022. Japanese Ophthalmological Society.