Objective To investigate the morphological change and SHP -2(src -homology domain contai-ning protein tygosine phosphatase type 2) gene expression in auditory cortical neuron after auditory deprivation in rat .Methods A total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into 2-week group ,4-week group ,6-week group ,8-week group and 4 corresponding control groups with 6 rats in each group .Bilateral cochlear ablation was done to traumatized groups to ensure their postoperative ABR threshold was above 90 dB SPL .Then paraffin sectioning and HE and Nissl staining were used to detect morphological change of auditory cortical neuron ,simultaneously the RT-PCR was used to measure the expression of SHP -2 gene in auditory cortical neuron of each group ,and relative quantitative analysis was used .Results The HE and Nissl staining revealed that apoptotic shape of auditory cortical neuron became serious by time ,with the diversified cellular morphology .The relative quantity of SHP -2 gene showed statistical differences between any two groups by the method of one -way ANOVA ,showing a rising trend by time (P<0 .05) .Conclusion Along with time ,auditory cortex ,auditory deprivation showed increasing neuronic apoptosis and neuronic proliferation .Apoptosis was the final result from the mutual antagonism by the 2 factors .