Objective     To investigate the changes of BMP4 mRNA and Noggin mRNA in superior colliculus after optic nerve injury.      Methods     Unilateral eyeball enucleation was used as animal model of optic nerve injury. Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group

and 4 groups including 24 h

1 week

2 weeks and 3 weeks after injury. The expression of BMP4 mRNA and Noggin mRNA in contralateral superior colliculus was detected by in situ hybridization. GFAP and MAP2 was detected by immunohistochemical method.      Results     BMP4 mRNA massively increased in 24 h after injury (P0.01) and decreased slightly in 1 week. Noggin mRNA had no obvious changes in the four groups as compared with control group (P0.05). GFAP IR cells increased in 24 h after injury (P0.01); MAP2 IR cells decreased since 1 week after injury (P0.01).      Conclusion     The expressions of BMP4 mRNA and Noggin mRNA in contralateral superior colliculus after unilateral eyeball enucleation may be one reason of the increase of astrocytes and degeneration of neurons.