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

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, April 19, 2006, 26(16):4155-4165; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0175-06.2006

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 Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (26) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bender, K. J. Articles by Feldman, D. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bender, K. J. Articles by Feldman, D. E.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Development/Plasticity/Repair
Synaptic Basis for Whisker Deprivation-Induced Synaptic Depression in Rat Somatosensory Cortex

Kevin J. Bender,^1 * Cara B. Allen,^2 * Vanessa A. Bender,² and Daniel E. Feldman^1,2

¹Division of Biological Sciences and ²Neuroscience Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0357

Correspondence should be addressed to Kevin J. Bender, Division of Biology, University of California San Diego, 3228 Pacific Hall, 0357, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0357. Email: kbender{at}ucsd.edu

Whisker deprivation weakens excitatory layer 4 (L4) inputs to L2/3 pyramidal cells in rat primary somatosensory (S1) cortex, which is likely to contribute to whisker map plasticity. This weakening has been proposed to represent long-term depression (LTD) induced by sensory deprivation in vivo. Here, we studied the synaptic expression mechanisms for deprivation-induced weakening of L4-L2/3 inputs and assessed its similarity to LTD, which is known to be expressed presynaptically at L4-L2/3 synapses. Whisker deprivation increased the paired pulse ratio at L4-L2/3 synapses and slowed the use-dependent block of NMDA receptor currents by MK-801 [(5S,10R)-(+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate], indicating that deprivation reduced transmitter release probability at these synapses. In contrast, deprivation did not alter either miniature EPSC amplitude in L2/3 neurons or the amplitude of quantal L4-L2/3 synaptic responses measured in strontium, indicating that postsynaptic responsiveness was unchanged. In young postnatal day 12 (P12) rats, at least 4 d of deprivation were required to significantly weaken L4-L2/3 synapses. Similar weakening occurred when deprivation began at older ages (P20), when synapses are mostly mature, indicating that weakening is unlikely to represent a failure of synaptic maturation but instead represents a reduction in the strength of existing synapses. Thus, whisker deprivation weakens L4-L2/3 synapses by decreasing presynaptic function, similar to known LTD mechanisms at this synapse.

Key words: experience-dependent plasticity; barrel; map plasticity; LTD; release probability; short-term plasticity

---

Received Jan. 13, 2006; revised March 6, 2006; accepted March 7, 2006.

Correspondence should be addressed to Kevin J. Bender, Division of Biology, University of California San Diego, 3228 Pacific Hall, 0357, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0357. Email: kbender{at}ucsd.edu

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Q.-Q. Sun Experience-Dependent Intrinsic Plasticity in Interneurons of Barrel Cortex Layer IV J Neurophysiol, November 1, 2009; 102(5): 2955 - 2973. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. W. Hickmott Synapses of Horizontal Connections in Adult Rat Somatosensory Cortex Have Different Properties Depending on the Source of their Axons Cereb Cortex, July 1, 2009; (2009) bhp125v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Bureau The development of cortical columns: role of Fragile X mental retardation protein J. Physiol., May 1, 2009; 587(9): 1897 - 1901. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J. Drew and D. E. Feldman Intrinsic Signal Imaging of Deprivation-Induced Contraction of Whisker Representations in Rat Somatosensory Cortex Cereb Cortex, February 1, 2009; 19(2): 331 - 348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. S. Nakashima and R. H. Dyck Enhanced Plasticity in Zincergic, Cortical Circuits after Exposure to Enriched Environments J. Neurosci., December 17, 2008; 28(51): 13995 - 13999. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Wang and Z.-w. Zhang A critical window for experience-dependent plasticity at whisker sensory relay synapse in the thalamus. J. Neurosci., December 10, 2008; 28(50): 13621 - 13628. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Bureau, G. M. G. Shepherd, and K. Svoboda Circuit and Plasticity Defects in the Developing Somatosensory Cortex of Fmr1 Knock-Out Mice J. Neurosci., May 14, 2008; 28(20): 5178 - 5188. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Maffei and G. G. Turrigiano Multiple Modes of Network Homeostasis in Visual Cortical Layer 2/3 J. Neurosci., April 23, 2008; 28(17): 4377 - 4384. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Busetto, M. J. Higley, and B. L. Sabatini Developmental presence and disappearance of postsynaptically silent synapses on dendritic spines of rat layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons J. Physiol., March 15, 2008; 586(6): 1519 - 1527. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. J. Brasier and D. E. Feldman Synapse-Specific Expression of Functional Presynaptic NMDA Receptors in Rat Somatosensory Cortex J. Neurosci., February 27, 2008; 28(9): 2199 - 2211. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Young and Q.-Q. Sun Long-Term Modifications in the Strength of Excitatory Associative Inputs in the Piriform Cortex Chem Senses, October 1, 2007; 32(8): 783 - 794. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Corlew, Y. Wang, H. Ghermazien, A. Erisir, and B. D. Philpot Developmental Switch in the Contribution of Presynaptic and Postsynaptic NMDA Receptors to Long-Term Depression J. Neurosci., September 12, 2007; 27(37): 9835 - 9845. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S.-H. Lee, P. W. Land, and D. J. Simons Layer- and Cell-Type-Specific Effects of Neonatal Whisker-Trimming in Adult Rat Barrel Cortex J Neurophysiol, June 1, 2007; 97(6): 4380 - 4385. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Borgdorff, J. F. A. Poulet, and C. C. H. Petersen Facilitating Sensory Responses in Developing Mouse Somatosensory Barrel Cortex J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2007; 97(4): 2992 - 3003. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E. J. Cheetham, M. S. L. Hammond, C. E. J. Edwards, and G. T. Finnerty Sensory Experience Alters Cortical Connectivity and Synaptic Function Site Specifically J. Neurosci., March 28, 2007; 27(13): 3456 - 3465. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Crozier, Y. Wang, C.-H. Liu, and M. F. Bear Deprivation-induced synaptic depression by distinct mechanisms in different layers of mouse visual cortex PNAS, January 23, 2007; 104(4): 1383 - 1388. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. A. Bender, K. J. Bender, D. J. Brasier, and D. E. Feldman Two coincidence detectors for spike timing-dependent plasticity in somatosensory cortex. J. Neurosci., April 19, 2006; 26(16): 4166 - 4177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help