Possible role of S-100 in glia-neuronal signalling involved in activity-dependent plasticity in the developing mammalian cortex.
Using Western blot analyses and a quantitative ELISA, we identified the presence and developmental accumulation of the astroglial S-100 protein(s) in rat and cat visual cortex. There is a steep rise in the S-100 content, comprising mainly S-100 beta, during the time period of highest cortical malleability in both species. A possible role of the astroglial S-100 protein(s) in experience-dependent plasticity of the visual cortex of kittens was tested by infusing antiserum against this protein during the critical period for cortical malleability. Following 1 week of monocular deprivation, the ocular dominance of single cells in the visual cortex was investigated. The vast majority of cells in the hemispheres infused with anti-S-100 serum maintained binocular responses. This finding suggests that extracellular S-100 protein is essential for ocular-dominance plasticity. Infusion of S-100 beta during the critical period of cortical malleability had no effect on deprivation-induced ocular-dominance plasticity, but interfered with the experience-dependent refinement of orientation selectivity of visual cortical neurons. It is suggested that S-100 beta may play an important role in the refinement of cortical circuitries by selectively affecting active or activated neuronal compartments. As S-100 beta is synthesized in astroglial cells, the effects on neuronal plasticity imply that glia-neuronal information transfer occurs during activity-dependent plasticity. Possible underlying mechanisms are discussed on the basis of current knowledge on the S-100 protein family, especially S-100 beta (Marshak, 1990).
Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Department of Physical Biology, Tübingen, Germany.
C M
CM
Müller
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Akhavan
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Bette
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002450:Cell Communication; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014785:Vision, Ocular; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
D009418:S100 Proteins