Introduction
Aging is associated with a deterioration of
cognitive function including a decrease in the
ability to process and store new information
[46]. Processes that might negatively affect
vision and cognitive function during aging are
manifold. Among them, the alteration occurs
along the central visual pathway [3]. Ageing
is characterized by gradual decline in
biochemical processes, which determine
structural and functional alterations at the
cellular level [27, 24]. An organism ages as a
’self-regulatory’ system and its key
mechanisms are linked with changes in
structure, and functions of the brain , the
central visual system has a major impact on
brain function [13,43] . The visual cerebral
cortex is the largest system in mammals
brain is responsible for processing the visual
image [23].The term visual cerebral cortex of
the brain refers to the primary visual cortex
(also known as striate cortex or V1) and extra
striate visual cortical areas such as V2, V3,
V4 and V5(MT) [10,23]. The primary visual
cortex is anatomically equivalent to
Brodmann area 17,or BA17. The extrastiate
cortical areas consists of Brodmann area 18
and Brodmann area 19 (28).There is a visual
cortex in each hemisphere of the brain. The
left hemisphere visual cortex receives signals
from the right visual field and the right
visual cortex from the left visual field [35].
Each hemisphere’s V1 receives information
directly from its ipsilateral lateral geniculate
nucleus [10]. Because of the consideration of
a primary visual cortex as the largest area in
the occipital lobe of the brain on the basis of
Rajaa Ali Moheiseen Al-Taee et. al.: Journal of Global Pharmacy Technology. 2017;12(9):210-218
©2009-2017, JGPT. All Rights Reserved 211
quantitative and qualitative cytoarchitectonic
criteria as well as to the cortical region
receiving direct inputs from dLGN [37], the
current study deals with the primary visual
cortex as a subject of this study in recent
years, lectin histochemistry has developed a
useful tool to study various aspects of cell
differentiation and cell-to-cell interaction as
well as the cell surface saccharides believed
to be involved in a variety of cell functions,
including development, growth regulation
and cellular locomotion .
In the present study three Fluorescence
Isothiocynate FITC (Wheat Germ Agglutinin
(WGA), Ulex europaeus II (UEAII) and
Succinylated Wheat Germ Agglutinin
(SWGA)) were used to investigate the
altering appearance of sugar residues or (
moieties in the complex glycoconjugates) in
the primary visual cerebral cortex of the
albino rat during it?s development, adult and
advanced ages of life as a result of effect of
aging.