Mechanism Study of High Magnesium Promoting Binocular Vision Recovery in Amblyopia Patients: The Role of TRPM7

Abnormal visual experiences during critical periods of brain development can lead to visual function deficits, such as amblyopia. Current research suggests that high magnesium (Mg^2+) supplementation can restore synaptic plasticity in the adult visual cortex, promoting vision recovery in the amblyopic eye of adults. However, it remains unclear whether Mg^2+ can help adult amblyopia patients recover binocular vision, and what the potential molecular mechanisms are. A paper received on August 9, 2023, and accepted on March 6, 2024, by researchers from the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, provides new insights into this phenomenon. The study has been published in “Neurosci. Bull.”

This study demonstrates for the first time that high Mg^2+ can restore binocular visual function from amblyopia. The research shows that TRPM7 is necessary for the recovery of visual cortex plasticity after high Mg^2+ treatment, providing potential clinical applications for future research and treatment of amblyopia.

Research Background

Amblyopia is a common visual impairment closely related to experience-dependent plasticity during development. Monocular deprivation (MD) in early life can severely disrupt the ocular dominance (OD) distribution in the primary visual cortex (V1), leading to reduced vision and binocular integration ability in the amblyopic eye, which cannot spontaneously recover after the critical period ends. Therefore, promoting V1 synaptic plasticity becomes crucial for adult amblyopia patients. Additionally, brain Mg^2+ is essential for neural circuit function and plasticity. In studies of rat learning and memory, it has been shown that increased brain Mg^2+ can enhance cognitive function by enhancing short-term synaptic facilitation and long-term potentiation (LTP). However, it is unclear whether increased Mg^2+ concentration in V1 can rescue binocular dysfunction caused by amblyopia. Thus, this study aims to explore the role of Mg^2+ in restoring binocular vision in adult amblyopia patients and its molecular mechanisms.

Research Source

This study was jointly completed by Dai Menghan, Li Jie, Hao Xiangwen, Li Na, Zheng Mingfang, He Miao, and Gu Yu. They are from the Institute of Brain Science, Fudan University.

Research Details

Experiments conducted on wild-type C57BL/6 mice explored the effects of high Mg^2+ on amblyopic mice. Through behavioral tests, it was found that amblyopic mice treated with Mg^2+ showed better depth perception. This effect could be suppressed by knocking out the transient receptor potential melastatin-like 7 (TRPM7). In vitro electrophysiology experiments demonstrated that knocking down TRPM7 expression in adult V1 could prevent the recovery of visual function after high Mg^2+ treatment.

Conclusions and Significance

The scientific value of this study lies in revealing that high Mg^2+ can restore binocular visual function in adult amblyopia patients, a finding that may lead to new directions in future amblyopia treatment. The research emphasizes the necessity of TRPM7 in the recovery of visual cortex plasticity after high Mg^2+ treatment, providing a theoretical basis for its potential as a clinical target for future amblyopia treatment.

Research Highlights

• Confirmed that high magnesium (Mg^2+) treatment can restore binocular visual function in adult amblyopic mice.
• Discovered that TRPM7 is necessary for the recovery of visual cortex plasticity after high Mg^2+ treatment.

Academic Report

This study not only has important value in the field of basic research but also provides new ideas for clinical treatment. It has far-reaching implications for the treatment of adult amblyopia patients and plasticity research. As research deepens, it is hoped that more methods to restore binocular integration and vision will be discovered.