QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, December 14, 2005, 25(50):11684-11692; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4362-05.2005

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplemental data Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (13) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Yashiro, K. Articles by Philpot, B. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Yashiro, K. Articles by Philpot, B. D. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB GLUTAMIC ACID HYDROCHLORIDE

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Cellular/Molecular
Visual Deprivation Modifies Both Presynaptic Glutamate Release and the Composition of Perisynaptic/Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptors in Adult Visual Cortex

Koji Yashiro,^1 * Rebekah Corlew,^2 * and Benjamin D. Philpot^1,2,3

¹Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, ²Curriculum in Neurobiology, and ³University of North Carolina Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599

Use-dependent modifications of synapses have been well described in the developing visual cortex, but the ability for experience to modify synapses in the adult visual cortex is poorly understood. We found that 10 d of late-onset visual deprivation modifies both presynaptic and postsynaptic elements at the layer 42/3 connection in the visual cortex of adult mice, and these changes differ from those observed in juveniles. Although visual deprivation in juvenile mice modifies the subunit composition and increases the current duration of synaptic NMDA receptors (NMDARs), no such effect is observed at synapses between layer 4 and layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in adult mice. Surprisingly, visual deprivation in adult mice enhances the temporal summation of NMDAR-mediated currents induced by bursts of high-frequency stimulation. The enhanced temporal summation of NMDAR-mediated currents in deprived cortex could not be explained by a reduction in the rate of synaptic depression, because our data indicate that late-onset visual deprivation actually increases the rate of synaptic depression. Biochemical and electrophysiological evidence instead suggest that the enhanced temporal summation in adult mice could be accounted for by a change in the molecular composition of NMDARs at perisynaptic/extrasynaptic sites. Our data demonstrate that the experience-dependent modifications observed in the adult visual cortex are different from those observed during development. These differences may help to explain the unique consequences of sensory deprivation on plasticity in the developing versus mature cortex.

Key words: NMDA receptor; NR2A; NR2B; metaplasticity; visual cortex; sensory deprivation

---

Received June 10, 2005; revised November 2, 2005; accepted November 2, 2005.

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help