miR-132, an experience-dependent microRNA, is essential for visual cortex plasticity

Nat Neurosci. 2011 Sep 4;14(10):1240-2. doi: 10.1038/nn.2909.

Abstract

Using quantitative analyses, we identified microRNAs (miRNAs) that were abundantly expressed in visual cortex and that responded to dark rearing and/or monocular deprivation. The most substantially altered miRNA, miR-132, was rapidly upregulated after eye opening and was delayed by dark rearing. In vivo inhibition of miR-132 in mice prevented ocular dominance plasticity in identified neurons following monocular deprivation and affected the maturation of dendritic spines, demonstrating its critical role in the plasticity of visual cortex circuits.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Critical Period, Psychological
  • Darkness
  • Dendritic Spines / metabolism
  • Dominance, Ocular
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / drug effects
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling / methods
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • MicroRNAs / chemistry
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / pharmacology
  • MicroRNAs / physiology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Neuronal Plasticity / genetics
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / methods
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Pyramidal Cells / drug effects
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology*
  • Pyramidal Cells / ultrastructure
  • Sensory Deprivation
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Visual Cortex / cytology*
  • Visual Cortex / physiology

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins
  • MIRN132 microRNA, mouse
  • MicroRNAs
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Calcium

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE31536