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Takahata T. Development of ocular dominance columns across rodents and other species: revisiting the concept of critical period plasticity. Front Neural Circuits 2024; 18:1402700. [PMID: 39036421 PMCID: PMC11258045 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2024.1402700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The existence of cortical columns, regarded as computational units underlying both lower and higher-order information processing, has long been associated with highly evolved brains, and previous studies suggested their absence in rodents. However, recent discoveries have unveiled the presence of ocular dominance columns (ODCs) in the primary visual cortex (V1) of Long-Evans rats. These domains exhibit continuity from layer 2 through layer 6, confirming their identity as genuine ODCs. Notably, ODCs are also observed in Brown Norway rats, a strain closely related to wild rats, suggesting the physiological relevance of ODCs in natural survival contexts, although they are lacking in albino rats. This discovery has enabled researchers to explore the development and plasticity of cortical columns using a multidisciplinary approach, leveraging studies involving hundreds of individuals-an endeavor challenging in carnivore and primate species. Notably, developmental trajectories differ depending on the aspect under examination: while the distribution of geniculo-cortical afferent terminals indicates matured ODCs even before eye-opening, consistent with prevailing theories in carnivore/primate studies, examination of cortical neuron spiking activities reveals immature ODCs until postnatal day 35, suggesting delayed maturation of functional synapses which is dependent on visual experience. This developmental gap might be recognized as 'critical period' for ocular dominance plasticity in previous studies. In this article, I summarize cross-species differences in ODCs and geniculo-cortical network, followed by a discussion on the development, plasticity, and evolutionary significance of rat ODCs. I discuss classical and recent studies on critical period plasticity in the venue where critical period plasticity might be a component of experience-dependent development. Consequently, this series of studies prompts a paradigm shift in our understanding of species conservation of cortical columns and the nature of plasticity during the classical critical period.
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Zhang X, Liu L, Li Y, Li X, Wang K, Han S, Wang M, Zhang Y, Zheng G, Cheng J, Wen B. Integrative neurovascular coupling and neurotransmitter analyses in anisometropic and visual deprivation amblyopia children. iScience 2024; 27:109988. [PMID: 38883835 PMCID: PMC11177132 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The association between visual abnormalities and impairments in cerebral blood flow and brain region potentially results in neural dysfunction of amblyopia. Nevertheless, the differences in the complex mechanisms of brain neural network coupling and its relationship with neurotransmitters remain unclear. Here, the neurovascular coupling mechanism and neurotransmitter activity in children with anisometropic amblyopia (AA) and visual deprivation amblyopia (VDA) was explored. The neurovascular coupling of 17 brain regions in amblyopia children was significantly abnormal than in normal controls. The classification abilities of coupling units in brain regions differed between two types of amblyopia. Correlations between different coupling effects and neurotransmitters were different. The findings of this study demonstrate a correlation between the neurovascular coupling and neurotransmitter in children with AA and VDA, implying their impaired neurovascular coupling function and potential molecular underpinnings. The neuroimaging evidence revealed herein offers potential for the development of neural therapies for amblyopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopan Zhang
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Liang Liu
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yadong Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Kejia Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shaoqiang Han
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mengzhu Wang
- MR Research Collaboration, Siemens Healthineers Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guangying Zheng
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jingliang Cheng
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Baohong Wen
- Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Huang L, Hardyman F, Edwards M, Galliano E. Deprivation-Induced Plasticity in the Early Central Circuits of the Rodent Visual, Auditory, and Olfactory Systems. eNeuro 2024; 11:ENEURO.0435-23.2023. [PMID: 38195533 PMCID: PMC11059429 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0435-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Activity-dependent neuronal plasticity is crucial for animals to adapt to dynamic sensory environments. Traditionally, it has been investigated using deprivation approaches in animal models primarily in sensory cortices. Nevertheless, emerging evidence emphasizes its significance in sensory organs and in subcortical regions where cranial nerves relay information to the brain. Additionally, critical questions started to arise. Do different sensory modalities share common cellular mechanisms for deprivation-induced plasticity at these central entry points? Does the deprivation duration correlate with specific plasticity mechanisms? This study systematically reviews and meta-analyzes research papers that investigated visual, auditory, or olfactory deprivation in rodents of both sexes. It examines the consequences of sensory deprivation in homologous regions at the first central synapse following cranial nerve transmission (vision - lateral geniculate nucleus and superior colliculus; audition - ventral and dorsal cochlear nucleus; olfaction - olfactory bulb). The systematic search yielded 91 papers (39 vision, 22 audition, 30 olfaction), revealing substantial heterogeneity in publication trends, experimental methods, measures of plasticity, and reporting across the sensory modalities. Despite these differences, commonalities emerged when correlating plasticity mechanisms with the duration of sensory deprivation. Short-term deprivation (up to 1 d) reduced activity and increased disinhibition, medium-term deprivation (1 d to a week) involved glial changes and synaptic remodeling, and long-term deprivation (over a week) primarily led to structural alterations. These findings underscore the importance of standardizing methodologies and reporting practices. Additionally, they highlight the value of cross-modal synthesis for understanding how the nervous system, including peripheral, precortical, and cortical areas, respond to and compensate for sensory inputs loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Huang
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, CB23EL Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca Hardyman
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, CB23EL Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Megan Edwards
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, CB23EL Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Galliano
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, CB23EL Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Qin Y, Ahmadlou M, Suhai S, Neering P, de Kraker L, Heimel JA, Levelt CN. Thalamic regulation of ocular dominance plasticity in adult visual cortex. eLife 2023; 12:RP88124. [PMID: 37796249 PMCID: PMC10554735 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Experience-dependent plasticity in the adult visual system is generally thought of as a cortical process. However, several recent studies have shown that perceptual learning or monocular deprivation can also induce plasticity in the adult dorsolateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the thalamus. How plasticity in the thalamus and cortex interact in the adult visual system is ill-understood. To assess the influence of thalamic plasticity on plasticity in primary visual cortex (V1), we made use of our previous finding that during the critical period ocular dominance (OD) plasticity occurs in dLGN and requires thalamic synaptic inhibition. Using multielectrode recordings we find that this is also true in adult mice, and that in the absence of thalamic inhibition and plasticity, OD plasticity in adult V1 is absent. To study the influence of V1 on thalamic plasticity, we silenced V1 and show that during the critical period, but not in adulthood, the OD shift in dLGN is partially caused by feedback from V1. We conclude that during adulthood the thalamus plays an unexpectedly dominant role in experience-dependent plasticity in V1. Our findings highlight the importance of considering the thalamus as a potential source of plasticity in learning events that are typically thought of as cortical processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Qin
- Molecular Visual Plasticity Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesAmsterdamNetherlands
- University of StrasbourgStrasbourgFrance
| | - Mehran Ahmadlou
- Circuits, Structure and Function Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Samuel Suhai
- Molecular Visual Plasticity Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Paul Neering
- Molecular Visual Plasticity Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Leander de Kraker
- Molecular Visual Plasticity Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - J Alexander Heimel
- Circuits, Structure and Function Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Christiaan N Levelt
- Molecular Visual Plasticity Group, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and SciencesAmsterdamNetherlands
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
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Fu J, Tanabe S, Cang J. Widespread and Multifaceted Binocular Integration in the Mouse Primary Visual Cortex. J Neurosci 2023; 43:6495-6507. [PMID: 37604691 PMCID: PMC10513071 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0925-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain combines two-dimensional images received from the two eyes to form a percept of three-dimensional surroundings. This process of binocular integration in the primary visual cortex (V1) serves as a useful model for studying how neural circuits generate emergent properties from multiple input signals. Here, we perform a thorough characterization of binocular integration using electrophysiological recordings in the V1 of awake adult male and female mice by systematically varying the orientation and phase disparity of monocular and binocular stimuli. We reveal widespread binocular integration in mouse V1 and demonstrate that the three commonly studied binocular properties-ocular dominance, interocular matching, and disparity selectivity-are independent of each other. For individual neurons, the responses to monocular stimulation can predict the average amplitude of binocular response but not its selectivity. Finally, the extensive and independent binocular integration of monocular inputs is seen across cortical layers in both regular-spiking and fast-spiking neurons, regardless of stimulus design. Our data indicate that the current model of simple feedforward convergence is inadequate to account for binocular integration in mouse V1, thus suggesting an indispensable role played by intracortical circuits in binocular computation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Binocular integration is an important step of visual processing that takes place in the visual cortex. Studying the process by which V1 neurons become selective for certain binocular disparities is informative about how neural circuits integrate multiple information streams at a more general level. Here, we systematically characterize binocular integration in mice. Our data demonstrate more widespread and complex binocular integration in mouse V1 than previously reported. Binocular responses cannot be explained by a simple convergence of monocular responses, contrary to the prevailing model of binocular integration. These findings thus indicate that intracortical circuits must be involved in the exquisite computation of binocular disparity, which would endow brain circuits with the plasticity needed for binocular development and processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieming Fu
- Neuroscience Graduate Program
- Department of Biology
| | - Seiji Tanabe
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904
| | - Jianhua Cang
- Department of Biology
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904
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Duffy KR, Bear MF, Patel NB, Das VE, Tychsen L. Human deprivation amblyopia: treatment insights from animal models. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1249466. [PMID: 37795183 PMCID: PMC10545969 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1249466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Amblyopia is a common visual impairment that develops during the early years of postnatal life. It emerges as a sequela to eye misalignment, an imbalanced refractive state, or obstruction to form vision. All of these conditions prevent normal vision and derail the typical development of neural connections within the visual system. Among the subtypes of amblyopia, the most debilitating and recalcitrant to treatment is deprivation amblyopia. Nevertheless, human studies focused on advancing the standard of care for amblyopia have largely avoided recruitment of patients with this rare but severe impairment subtype. In this review, we delineate characteristics of deprivation amblyopia and underscore the critical need for new and more effective therapy. Animal models offer a unique opportunity to address this unmet need by enabling the development of unconventional and potent amblyopia therapies that cannot be pioneered in humans. Insights derived from studies using animal models are discussed as potential therapeutic innovations for the remediation of deprivation amblyopia. Retinal inactivation is highlighted as an emerging therapy that exhibits efficacy against the effects of monocular deprivation at ages when conventional therapy is ineffective, and recovery occurs without apparent detriment to the treated eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R. Duffy
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Mark F. Bear
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Nimesh B. Patel
- College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Vallabh E. Das
- College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lawrence Tychsen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
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Guo Y, Yan H, Guo C, Zhang D, Wang J, Li Y, Yang Y. Analysis of the improvement in monocular amblyopia visual acuity caused by the changes in non-amblyopia visual acuity in 74 adults. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e34606. [PMID: 37713888 PMCID: PMC10508474 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000034606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
To observe the clinical phenomenon of amblyopia vision improvement in patients with monocular amblyopia over 18 years old after non-amblyopia diseases, analyze the conditions and causes of vision improvement, explore the plasticity of the adult optic nerve, and provide a clinical basis for the treatment of adult amblyopia. A total of 74 patients with monocular amblyopia combined with non-amblyopia visual acuity decline from 2018 to 2021 were collected. The patient's age, initial best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), pattern visual evoked potential examination results, and visual acuity regression were recorded. The BCVA of amblyopia was recorded every 3 months using an early treatment of diabetic retinopathy study visual acuity chart. In the 3rd month, BCVA increased by 16.2%, reaching 98% in the 9th month and 100% in the 12th months. According to the age of patients, the group aged 18 to 35 years was better than the group aged 35 to 60 years, whereas the group aged 35 to 60 years was better than the group aged over 60 years (P < .05). According to the comparison of initial visual acuity, the BCVA of the < 5 letter group was lower than that of the other 2 groups (P < .05). According to the pattern visual evoked potential results, the peak time of the < 10 ms group was better than that of the 10 to 20 ms group; the 10 to 20 ms group was better than that of the > 20 ms group; the peak decrease of the < 30% group was better than that of the 30% to 50% group; and the 30% to 50% group was better than that of the > 50% group (P < .05). The visual acuity regression of amblyopia in the 0.5 to 1-year group was higher than that in the other 2 groups (P < .05). This study confirms that adult amblyopia can still be cured under certain conditions. This visual plasticity is related to age, initial visual acuity, and excitability of the visual center. This study provides new clinical evidence and diagnostic ideas for the study of the pathogenesis of adult amblyopia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Guo
- Xi'an Bright Eye hospital, Xi’an, China
| | - Hong Yan
- Xi’an People’s Hospital (Xi’an Fourth Hospital), Shaanxi Eye Hospital, Affiliated Grangren Hospital of School of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Chenjun Guo
- Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Xi'an Bright Eye hospital, Xi’an, China
| | - Jue Wang
- Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yan Li
- Xi'an Bright Eye hospital, Xi’an, China
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8
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Gao J, Lu Y, Luo Y, Duan X, Chen P, Zhang X, Wu X, Qiu M, Shen W. β-Catenin and SOX2 Interaction Regulate Visual Experience-Dependent Cell Homeostasis in the Developing Xenopus Thalamus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13593. [PMID: 37686400 PMCID: PMC10488257 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In the vertebrate brain, sensory experience plays a crucial role in shaping thalamocortical connections for visual processing. However, it is still not clear how visual experience influences tissue homeostasis and neurogenesis in the developing thalamus. Here, we reported that the majority of SOX2-positive cells in the thalamus are differentiated neurons that receive visual inputs as early as stage 47 Xenopus. Visual deprivation (VD) for 2 days shifts the neurogenic balance toward proliferation at the expense of differentiation, which is accompanied by a reduction in nuclear-accumulated β-catenin in SOX2-positive neurons. The knockdown of β-catenin decreases the expression of SOX2 and increases the number of progenitor cells. Coimmunoprecipitation studies reveal the evolutionary conservation of strong interactions between β-catenin and SOX2. These findings indicate that β-catenin interacts with SOX2 to maintain homeostatic neurogenesis during thalamus development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanmei Gao
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
- College of Life and Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yufang Lu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Yuhao Luo
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Xinyi Duan
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Peiyao Chen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Xiaohua Wu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
| | - Mengsheng Qiu
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
- College of Life and Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wanhua Shen
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China (M.Q.)
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Carvalho J, Fernandes FF, Shemesh N. Extensive topographic remapping and functional sharpening in the adult rat visual pathway upon first visual experience. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002229. [PMID: 37590177 PMCID: PMC10434970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the dynamics of stability/plasticity balances during adulthood is pivotal for learning, disease, and recovery from injury. However, the brain-wide topography of sensory remapping remains unknown. Here, using a first-of-its-kind setup for delivering patterned visual stimuli in a rodent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, coupled with biologically inspired computational models, we noninvasively mapped brain-wide properties-receptive fields (RFs) and spatial frequency (SF) tuning curves-that were insofar only available from invasive electrophysiology or optical imaging. We then tracked the RF dynamics in the chronic visual deprivation model (VDM) of plasticity and found that light exposure progressively promoted a large-scale topographic remapping in adult rats. Upon light exposure, the initially unspecialized visual pathway progressively evidenced sharpened RFs (smaller and more spatially selective) and enhanced SF tuning curves. Our findings reveal that visual experience following VDM reshapes both structure and function of the visual system and shifts the stability/plasticity balance in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Carvalho
- Laboratory of Preclinical MRI, Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Francisca F. Fernandes
- Laboratory of Preclinical MRI, Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Noam Shemesh
- Laboratory of Preclinical MRI, Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
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Hageter J, Starkey J, Horstick EJ. Thalamic regulation of a visual critical period and motor behavior. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112287. [PMID: 36952349 PMCID: PMC10514242 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
During the visual critical period (CP), sensory experience refines the structure and function of visual circuits. The basis of this plasticity was long thought to be limited to cortical circuits, but recently described thalamic plasticity challenges this dogma and demonstrates greater complexity underlying visual plasticity. Yet how visual experience modulates thalamic neurons or how the thalamus modulates CP timing is incompletely understood. Using a larval zebrafish, thalamus-centric ocular dominance model, we show functional changes in the thalamus and a role of inhibitory signaling to establish CP timing using a combination of functional imaging, optogenetics, and pharmacology. Hemisphere-specific changes in genetically defined thalamic neurons correlate with changes in visuomotor behavior, establishing a role of thalamic plasticity in modulating motor performance. Our work demonstrates that visual plasticity is broadly conserved and that visual experience leads to neuron-level functional changes in the thalamus that require inhibitory signaling to establish critical period timing.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Hageter
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Jacob Starkey
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Eric J Horstick
- Department of Biology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA; Department of Neuroscience, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
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11
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Nie Z, Xie X, Kang L, Wang W, Xu S, Chen M, Yao L, Gong Q, Zhou E, Li M, Wang H, Bu L, Liu Z. A Cross-Sectional Study: Structural and Related Functional Connectivity Changes in the Brain: Stigmata of Adverse Parenting in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder? Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13040694. [PMID: 37190659 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13040694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: There is a high correlation between the risk of major depressive disorder (MDD) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as adverse parenting (AP). While there appears to be an association between ACEs and changes in brain structure and function, there have yet to be multimodal neuroimaging studies of associations between parenting style and brain developmental changes in MDD patients. To explore the effect of AP on brain structure and function. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 125 MDD outpatients were included in the study and divided into the AP group and the optimal parenting (OP) group. Participants completed self-rating scales to assess depressive severity, symptoms, and their parents' styles. They also completed magnetic resonance imaging within one week of filling out the instruments. The differences between groups of gender, educational level, and medications were analyzed using the chi-squared test and those of age, duration of illness, and scores on scales using the independent samples t-test. Differences in gray matter volume (GMV) and resting-state functional connectivity (RS-FC) were assessed between groups. Results: AP was associated with a significant increase in GMV in the right superior parietal lobule (SPL) and FC between the right SPL and the bilateral medial superior frontal cortex in MDD patients. Limitations: The cross-cultural characteristics of AP will result in the lack of generalizability of the findings. Conclusions: The results support the hypothesis that AP during childhood may imprint the brain and affect depressive symptoms in adulthood. Parents should pay attention to the parenting style and avoid a style that lacks warmth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaowen Nie
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Xinhui Xie
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Lijun Kang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Shuxian Xu
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Mianmian Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Lihua Yao
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Qian Gong
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Enqi Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Meng Li
- PET/CT/MRI and Molecular Imaging Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Huiling Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Lihong Bu
- PET/CT/MRI and Molecular Imaging Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Zhongchun Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Taikang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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12
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Cang J, Fu J, Tanabe S. Neural circuits for binocular vision: Ocular dominance, interocular matching, and disparity selectivity. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1084027. [PMID: 36874946 PMCID: PMC9975354 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1084027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain creates a single visual percept of the world with inputs from two eyes. This means that downstream structures must integrate information from the two eyes coherently. Not only does the brain meet this challenge effortlessly, it also uses small differences between the two eyes' inputs, i.e., binocular disparity, to construct depth information in a perceptual process called stereopsis. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of the neural circuits underlying stereoscopic vision and its development. Here, we review these advances in the context of three binocular properties that have been most commonly studied for visual cortical neurons: ocular dominance of response magnitude, interocular matching of orientation preference, and response selectivity for binocular disparity. By focusing mostly on mouse studies, as well as recent studies using ferrets and tree shrews, we highlight unresolved controversies and significant knowledge gaps regarding the neural circuits underlying binocular vision. We note that in most ocular dominance studies, only monocular stimulations are used, which could lead to a mischaracterization of binocularity. On the other hand, much remains unknown regarding the circuit basis of interocular matching and disparity selectivity and its development. We conclude by outlining opportunities for future studies on the neural circuits and functional development of binocular integration in the early visual system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Cang
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Jieming Fu
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Seiji Tanabe
- Department of Psychology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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13
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Li N, Liu Q, Zhang Y, Yang Z, Shi X, Gu Y. Cortical feedback modulates distinct critical period development in mouse visual thalamus. iScience 2022; 26:105752. [PMID: 36590174 PMCID: PMC9794980 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In primary visual cortex (V1), critical period for ocular dominance (OD) plasticity is a well-defined developmental stage to shape neuronal circuits based on visual experience. Recent studies showed that V1-like OD plasticity existed in mouse dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN). It is still unclear what the exact time window is and how neural circuits contribute to OD plasticity in dLGN. Using in vivo electrophysiology, we defined a critical period for OD plasticity in dLGN from eye opening to puberty. There also existed an innate process of OD formation from contralateral to equal bias in dLGN binocular neurons. Instant V1 inactivation with muscimol had no effect on OD bias or plasticity. Short-term V1 inactivation with N-methyl-d-aspartate reversed the formation of equal OD bias, while long-term V1 inactivation retained dLGN development to an immature stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Yimu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhongyi Yang
- School of Basic Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xuefeng Shi
- Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China
- Institute of Ophthalmology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300020, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Yu Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- Corresponding author
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14
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Huh CYL, Leinonen H, Nakayama T, Tomasello JR, Zhang J, Zeitoun J, Peach JP, Halabi M, Kiser JZ, Palczewski K, Kiser PD, Gandhi SP. Retinoid therapy restores eye-specific cortical responses in adult mice with retinal degeneration. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4538-4546.e5. [PMID: 36152631 PMCID: PMC10083103 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Despite the recent emergence of multiple cellular and molecular strategies to restore vision in retinal disorders, it remains unclear to what extent central visual circuits can recover when retinal defects are corrected in adulthood. We addressed this question in an Lrat-/- mouse model of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) in which retinal light sensitivity and optomotor responses are partially restored by 9-cis-retinyl acetate administration in adulthood. Following treatment, two-photon calcium imaging revealed increases in the number and response amplitude of visually responsive neurons in the primary visual cortex (V1). In particular, retinoid treatment enhanced responses from the ipsilateral eye, restoring the normal balance of eye-specific responses in V1. Additionally, the treatment rescued the modulation of cortical responses by arousal. These findings illustrate the significant plasticity of the adult central visual system and underscore the therapeutic potential of retinoid administration for adults with retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carey Y L Huh
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Henri Leinonen
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio 70211, Finland
| | - Taylor Nakayama
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Julia R Tomasello
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jianye Zhang
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jack Zeitoun
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - John P Peach
- Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Maximilian Halabi
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Jianying Z Kiser
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Krzysztof Palczewski
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Philip D Kiser
- Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Translational Vision Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Research Service, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA 90822, USA; Department of Clinical Pharmacy Practice, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Sunil P Gandhi
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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15
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Juvenile depletion of microglia reduces orientation but not high spatial frequency selectivity in mouse V1. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12779. [PMID: 35896554 PMCID: PMC9329297 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15503-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia contain multiple mechanisms that shape the synaptic landscape during postnatal development. Whether the synaptic changes mediated by microglia reflect the developmental refinement of neuronal responses in sensory cortices, however, remains poorly understood. In postnatal life, the development of increased orientation and spatial frequency selectivity of neuronal responses in primary visual cortex (V1) supports the emergence of high visual acuity. Here, we used the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor PLX5622 to rapidly and durably deplete microglia in mice during the juvenile period in which increased orientation and spatial frequency selectivity emerge. Excitatory and inhibitory tuning properties were measured simultaneously using multi-photon calcium imaging in layer II/III of mouse V1. We found that microglia depletion generally increased evoked activity which, in turn, reduced orientation selectivity. Surprisingly, microglia were not required for the emergence of high spatial frequency tuned responses. In addition, microglia depletion did not perturb cortical binocularity, suggesting normal depth processing. Together, our finding that orientation and high spatial frequency selectivity in V1 are differentially supported by microglia reveal that microglia are required normal sensory processing, albeit selectively.
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16
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Kurzawski JW, Lunghi C, Biagi L, Tosetti M, Morrone MC, Binda P. Short-term plasticity in the human visual thalamus. eLife 2022; 11:74565. [PMID: 35384840 PMCID: PMC9020816 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
While there is evidence that the visual cortex retains a potential for plasticity in adulthood, less is known about the subcortical stages of visual processing. Here we asked whether short-term ocular dominance plasticity affects the human visual thalamus. We addressed this question in normally sighted adult humans, using ultra-high field (7T) magnetic resonance imaging combined with the paradigm of short-term monocular deprivation. With this approach, we previously demonstrated transient shifts of perceptual eye dominance and ocular dominance in visual cortex (Binda et al., 2018). Here we report evidence for short-term plasticity in the ventral division of the pulvinar (vPulv), where the deprived eye representation was enhanced over the non-deprived eye. This ventral-pulvinar plasticity was similar as previously seen in visual cortex and it was correlated with the ocular dominance shift measured behaviorally. In contrast, there was no effect of monocular deprivation in two adjacent thalamic regions: dorsal pulvinar (dPulv), and Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN). We conclude that the visual thalamus retains potential for short-term plasticity in adulthood; the plasticity effect differs across thalamic subregions, possibly reflecting differences in their cortico-fugal connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claudia Lunghi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Maria Concetta Morrone
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Binda
- Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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17
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Bolton JL, Short AK, Othy S, Kooiker CL, Shao M, Gunn BG, Beck J, Bai X, Law SM, Savage JC, Lambert JJ, Belelli D, Tremblay MÈ, Cahalan MD, Baram TZ. Early stress-induced impaired microglial pruning of excitatory synapses on immature CRH-expressing neurons provokes aberrant adult stress responses. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110600. [PMID: 35354026 PMCID: PMC9014810 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Several mental illnesses, characterized by aberrant stress reactivity, often arise after early-life adversity (ELA). However, it is unclear how ELA affects stress-related brain circuit maturation, provoking these enduring vulnerabilities. We find that ELA increases functional excitatory synapses onto stress-sensitive hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)-expressing neurons, resulting from disrupted developmental synapse pruning by adjacent microglia. Microglial process dynamics and synaptic element engulfment were attenuated in ELA mice, associated with deficient signaling of the microglial phagocytic receptor MerTK. Accordingly, selective chronic chemogenetic activation of ELA microglia increased microglial process dynamics and reduced excitatory synapse density to control levels. Notably, selective early-life activation of ELA microglia normalized adult acute and chronic stress responses, including stress-induced hormone secretion and behavioral threat responses, as well as chronic adrenal hypertrophy of ELA mice. Thus, microglial actions during development are powerful contributors to mechanisms by which ELA sculpts the connectivity of stress-regulating neurons, promoting vulnerability to stress and stress-related mental illnesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Bolton
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
| | - Annabel K Short
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Shivashankar Othy
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Cassandra L Kooiker
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Manlin Shao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin G Gunn
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Division of Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Dundee University, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK
| | - Jaclyn Beck
- Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Xinglong Bai
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie M Law
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Julie C Savage
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada; Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Jeremy J Lambert
- Division of Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Dundee University, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK
| | - Delia Belelli
- Division of Neuroscience, Medical Research Institute, Dundee University, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, UK
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Département de Médecine Moléculaire, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada; Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec City, QC, Canada
| | - Michael D Cahalan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Tallie Z Baram
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA.
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18
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Chronic Monocular Deprivation Reveals MMP9-Dependent and -Independent Aspects of Murine Visual System Plasticity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052438. [PMID: 35269580 PMCID: PMC8909986 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The deletion of matrix metalloproteinase MMP9 is combined here with chronic monocular deprivation (cMD) to identify the contributions of this proteinase to plasticity in the visual system. Calcium imaging of supragranular neurons of the binocular region of primary visual cortex (V1b) of wild-type mice revealed that cMD initiated at eye opening significantly decreased the strength of deprived-eye visual responses to all stimulus contrasts and spatial frequencies. cMD did not change the selectivity of V1b neurons for the spatial frequency, but orientation selectivity was higher in low spatial frequency-tuned neurons, and orientation and direction selectivity were lower in high spatial frequency-tuned neurons. Constitutive deletion of MMP9 did not impact the stimulus selectivity of V1b neurons, including ocular preference and tuning for spatial frequency, orientation, and direction. However, MMP9-/- mice were completely insensitive to plasticity engaged by cMD, such that the strength of the visual responses evoked by deprived-eye stimulation was maintained across all stimulus contrasts, orientations, directions, and spatial frequencies. Other forms of experience-dependent plasticity, including stimulus selective response potentiation, were normal in MMP9-/- mice. Thus, MMP9 activity is dispensable for many forms of activity-dependent plasticity in the mouse visual system, but is obligatory for the plasticity engaged by cMD.
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19
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Stacy AK, Van Hooser SD. Development of Functional Properties in the Early Visual System: New Appreciations of the Roles of Lateral Geniculate Nucleus. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2022; 53:3-35. [PMID: 35112333 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2021_297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In the years following Hubel and Wiesel's first reports on ocular dominance plasticity and amblyopia, much attention has been focused on understanding the role of cortical circuits in developmental and experience-dependent plasticity. Initial studies found few differences between retinal ganglion cells and neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus and uncovered little evidence for an impact of altered visual experience on the functional properties of lateral geniculate nucleus neurons. In the last two decades, however, studies have revealed that the connectivity between the retina and lateral geniculate nucleus is much richer than was previously appreciated, even revealing visual plasticity - including ocular dominance plasticity - in lateral geniculate nucleus neurons. Here we review the development of the early visual system and the impact of experience with a distinct focus on recent discoveries about lateral geniculate nucleus, its connectivity, and evidence for its plasticity and rigidity during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea K Stacy
- Department of Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA
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20
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Duménieu M, Marquèze-Pouey B, Russier M, Debanne D. Mechanisms of Plasticity in Subcortical Visual Areas. Cells 2021; 10:3162. [PMID: 34831385 PMCID: PMC8621502 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Visual plasticity is classically considered to occur essentially in the primary and secondary cortical areas. Subcortical visual areas such as the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) or the superior colliculus (SC) have long been held as basic structures responsible for a stable and defined function. In this model, the dLGN was considered as a relay of visual information travelling from the retina to cortical areas and the SC as a sensory integrator orienting body movements towards visual targets. However, recent findings suggest that both dLGN and SC neurons express functional plasticity, adding unexplored layers of complexity to their previously attributed functions. The existence of neuronal plasticity at the level of visual subcortical areas redefines our approach of the visual system. The aim of this paper is therefore to review the cellular and molecular mechanisms for activity-dependent plasticity of both synaptic transmission and cellular properties in subcortical visual areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dominique Debanne
- INSERM, Aix-Marseille Université, UNIS, 13015 Marseille, France; (M.D.); (B.M.-P.); (M.R.)
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21
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Faust TE, Gunner G, Schafer DP. Mechanisms governing activity-dependent synaptic pruning in the developing mammalian CNS. Nat Rev Neurosci 2021; 22:657-673. [PMID: 34545240 PMCID: PMC8541743 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-021-00507-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Almost 60 years have passed since the initial discovery by Hubel and Wiesel that changes in neuronal activity can elicit developmental rewiring of the central nervous system (CNS). Over this period, we have gained a more comprehensive picture of how both spontaneous neural activity and sensory experience-induced changes in neuronal activity guide CNS circuit development. Here we review activity-dependent synaptic pruning in the mammalian CNS, which we define as the removal of a subset of synapses, while others are maintained, in response to changes in neural activity in the developing nervous system. We discuss the mounting evidence that immune and cell-death molecules are important mechanistic links by which changes in neural activity guide the pruning of specific synapses, emphasizing the role of glial cells in this process. Finally, we discuss how these developmental pruning programmes may go awry in neurodevelopmental disorders of the human CNS, focusing on autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Together, our aim is to give an overview of how the field of activity-dependent pruning research has evolved, led to exciting new questions and guided the identification of new, therapeutically relevant mechanisms that result in aberrant circuit development in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis E Faust
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Georgia Gunner
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Dorothy P Schafer
- Department of Neurobiology, Brudnick Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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22
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Limited functional convergence of eye-specific inputs in the retinogeniculate pathway of the mouse. Neuron 2021; 109:2457-2468.e12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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23
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Aton SJ. Aligning one's sights: The pulvinar provides context for visual information processing. Neuron 2021; 109:1909-1911. [PMID: 34139179 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The pulvinar (lateral posterior [LP]), like other higher-order thalamic nuclei, receives input from-and sends output to-multiple neocortical structures. In this issue of Neuron, Blot et al. (2021) demonstrate that LP integrates multimodal inputs to put visual information in context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara J Aton
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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24
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Salinas KJ, Huh CYL, Zeitoun JH, Gandhi SP. Functional Differentiation of Mouse Visual Cortical Areas Depends upon Early Binocular Experience. J Neurosci 2021; 41:1470-1488. [PMID: 33376158 PMCID: PMC7896022 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0548-20.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian visual cortex contains multiple retinotopically defined areas that process distinct features of the visual scene. Little is known about what guides the functional differentiation of visual cortical areas during development. Recent studies in mice have revealed that visual input from the two eyes provides spatiotemporally distinct signals to primary visual cortex (V1), such that contralateral eye-dominated V1 neurons respond to higher spatial frequencies than ipsilateral eye-dominated neurons. To test whether binocular visual input drives the differentiation of visual cortical areas, we used two-photon calcium imaging to characterize the effects of juvenile monocular deprivation (MD) on the responses of neurons in V1 and two higher visual areas, LM (lateromedial) and PM (posteromedial). In adult mice of either sex, we find that MD prevents the emergence of distinct spatiotemporal tuning in V1, LM, and PM. We also find that, within each of these areas, MD reorganizes the distinct spatiotemporal tuning properties driven by the two eyes. Moreover, we find a relationship between speed tuning and ocular dominance in all three areas that MD preferentially disrupts in V1, but not in LM or PM. Together, these results reveal that balanced binocular vision during development is essential for driving the functional differentiation of visual cortical areas. The higher visual areas of mouse visual cortex may provide a useful platform for investigating the experience-dependent mechanisms that set up the specialized processing within neocortical areas during postnatal development.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Little is known about the factors guiding the emergence of functionally distinct areas in the brain. Using in vivo Ca2+ imaging, we recorded visually evoked activity from cells in V1 and higher visual areas LM (lateromedial) and PM (posteromedial) of mice. Neurons in these areas normally display distinct spatiotemporal tuning properties. We found that depriving one eye of normal input during development prevents the functional differentiation of visual areas. Deprivation did not disrupt the degree of speed tuning, a property thought to emerge in higher visual areas. Thus, some properties of visual cortical neurons are shaped by binocular experience, while others are resistant. Our study uncovers the fundamental role of binocular experience in the formation of distinct areas in visual cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirstie J Salinas
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Carey Y L Huh
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Jack H Zeitoun
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Sunil P Gandhi
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697
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25
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Zheng X, Salinas KJ, Velez DXF, Nakayama T, Lin X, Banerjee D, Xu X, Gandhi SP. Host interneurons mediate plasticity reactivated by embryonic inhibitory cell transplantation in mouse visual cortex. Nat Commun 2021; 12:862. [PMID: 33558487 PMCID: PMC7870960 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21097-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The adult brain lacks sensitivity to changes in the sensory environment found in the juvenile brain. The transplantation of embryonic interneurons has been shown to restore juvenile plasticity to the adult host visual cortex. It is unclear whether transplanted interneurons directly mediate the renewed cortical plasticity or whether these cells act indirectly by modifying the host interneuron circuitry. Here we find that the transplant-induced reorganization of mouse host circuits is specifically mediated by Neuregulin (NRG1)/ErbB4 signaling in host parvalbumin (PV) interneurons. Brief visual deprivation reduces the visual activity of host PV interneurons but has negligible effects on the responses of transplanted PV interneurons. Exogenous NRG1 both prevents the deprivation-induced reduction in the visual responses of host PV interneurons and blocks the transplant-induced reorganization of the host circuit. While deletion of ErbB4 receptors from host PV interneurons blocks cortical plasticity in the transplant recipients, deletion of the receptors from the donor PV interneurons does not. Altogether, our results indicate that transplanted embryonic interneurons reactivate cortical plasticity by rejuvenating the function of host PV interneurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- XiaoTing Zheng
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2715, USA
| | - Kirstie J Salinas
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2715, USA
| | - Dario X Figueroa Velez
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2715, USA
| | - Taylor Nakayama
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2715, USA
| | - Xiaoxiao Lin
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2715, USA
| | - Dhruba Banerjee
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2715, USA
| | - Xiangmin Xu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2715, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2715, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2715, USA
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2715, USA
| | - Sunil P Gandhi
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2715, USA.
- Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697-2715, USA.
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26
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Gil R, Fernandes FF, Shemesh N. Neuroplasticity-driven timing modulations revealed by ultrafast functional magnetic resonance imaging. Neuroimage 2020; 225:117446. [PMID: 33069861 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Detecting neuroplasticity in global brain circuits in vivo is key for understanding myriad processes such as memory, learning, and recovery from injury. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is instrumental for such in vivo mappings, yet it typically relies on mapping changes in spatial extent of activation or via signal amplitude modulations, whose interpretation can be highly ambiguous. Importantly, a central aspect of neuroplasticity involves modulation of neural activity timing properties. We thus hypothesized that this temporal dimension could serve as a new marker for neuroplasticity. To detect fMRI signals more associated with the underlying neural dynamics, we developed an ultrafast fMRI (ufMRI) approach facilitating high spatiotemporal sensitivity and resolution in distributed neural pathways. When neuroplasticity was induced in the mouse visual pathway via dark rearing, ufMRI indeed mapped temporal modulations in the entire visual pathway. Our findings therefore suggest a new dimension for exploring neuroplasticity in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Gil
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Noam Shemesh
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal.
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27
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Luby JL, Baram TZ, Rogers CE, Barch DM. Neurodevelopmental Optimization after Early-Life Adversity: Cross-Species Studies to Elucidate Sensitive Periods and Brain Mechanisms to Inform Early Intervention. Trends Neurosci 2020; 43:744-751. [PMID: 32863044 PMCID: PMC7530018 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Human brain development is influenced by early-life experiences, particularly during sensitive periods, with impact on cognitive and emotional outcomes. Understanding how the timing and nature of such experiences (including adversity, trauma, and enrichment) govern their influence on brain organization is crucial for harnessing key environmental factors early in life to enhance brain development. Here we synthesize findings from human and animal studies focusing on sensitive periods and their regional and circuit specificity and highlight the challenge and power of such cross-species approaches in informing the 'next steps' to optimize cognitive and emotional health in developing children. We propose designs for neurodevelopmental optimization research programs utilizing randomized enhancement trials in early childhood to inform public health strategies on prevention and early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan L Luby
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Early Emotional Development Program, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Tallie Z Baram
- Departments of Pediatrics, Anatomy/Neurobiology, and Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Cynthia E Rogers
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Early Emotional Development Program, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Deanna M Barch
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Early Emotional Development Program, 4444 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO, USA; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA; Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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28
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Frantz MG, Crouse EC, Sokhadze G, Ikrar T, Stephany CÉ, Nguyen C, Xu X, McGee AW. Layer 4 Gates Plasticity in Visual Cortex Independent of a Canonical Microcircuit. Curr Biol 2020; 30:2962-2973.e5. [PMID: 32589913 PMCID: PMC7919382 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.05.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Disrupting binocular vision during a developmental critical period can yield enduring changes to ocular dominance (OD) in primary visual cortex (V1). Here we investigated how this experience-dependent plasticity is coordinated within the laminar circuitry of V1 by deleting separately in each cortical layer (L) a gene required to close the critical period, nogo-66 receptor (ngr1). Deleting ngr1 in excitatory neurons in L4, but not in L2/3, L5, or L6, prevented closure of the critical period, and adult mice remained sensitive to brief monocular deprivation. Intracortical disinhibition, but not thalamocortical disinhibition, accompanied this OD plasticity. Both juvenile wild-type mice and adult mice lacking ngr1 in L4 displayed OD plasticity that advanced more rapidly L4 than L2/3 or L5. Interestingly, blocking OD plasticity in L2/3 with the drug AM-251 did not impair OD plasticity in L5. We propose that L4 restricts disinhibition and gates OD plasticity independent of a canonical cortical microcircuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Frantz
- Developmental Neuroscience Program, Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Emily C Crouse
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Guela Sokhadze
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Taruna Ikrar
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Céleste-Élise Stephany
- Developmental Neuroscience Program, Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Collins Nguyen
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Xiangmin Xu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
| | - Aaron W McGee
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA; Developmental Neuroscience Program, Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Department of Pediatrics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
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29
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Li N, Gu Y. The Visual Pathway for Binocular Integration. Neurosci Bull 2020; 36:1089-1091. [PMID: 32367252 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-020-00506-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yu Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and Ministry of Education Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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