Description
In chicks, the avian homologue of the early growth response protein-1 (ZENK) has been shown to be increased in a special cell type of the retina, the glucagonergic amacrine cells, under conditions that lead to a reduction in eye growth (myopic defocus, recovery of myopia) and decreased under conditions that enhance ocular growth (hyperopic defocus, form-deprivation). The investigation of Egr-1 knock-out mice showed that homozygous knock-out mice with no functional Egr-1 protein developed relative axial myopia at the age of 42 and 56 days, compared to heterozygous- and wildtype Egr-1 knock-out mice.