Partial blocking of NMDA receptors reduces plastic changes induced by short-lasting classical conditioning in the SI barrel cortex of adult mice.
The effect of blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in the barrel cortex upon the learning-induced changes of the cortical body map was examined in adult mice. We have previously found that three sensory conditioning sessions, in which stimulation of a row of vibrissae was paired with a tail shock, produced an enlargement of the functional representation of a row of vibrissae stimulated during training. Implantation of the slow release polymer Elvax, containing 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (APV, 50 mM), in the vicinity of the barrel cortex was performed 1 day before conditioning to block NMDA receptors. The cortical representation of a trained row of vibrissae was visualized with 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) functional brain mapping 1 day after the completion of the conditioning procedure. The partial blockade of NMDA receptors within the barrel cortex reduced (by half) the expansion of the cortical representation of a trained row of vibrissae as compared to the enlargement of the cortical representation of a trained row found in untreated (60%) and Elvax-PBS implanted (47%) mice. The results provide evidence that the learning-induced processes of cortical map reorganization involve mechanisms that depend on NMDA receptor activation.
Jablonska
B
B
Department of Neurophysiology, Nencki Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
Gierdalski
M
M
Kossut
M
M
Skangiel-Kramska
J
J
D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000187:drug effects*; D003847:Deoxyglucose / Q000378:metabolism; D004343:Drug Implants; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000494:pharmacology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D004343:Drug Implants; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D011145:Polyvinyls; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C016438:ethylenevinylacetate copolymer; D015763:2-Amino-5-phosphonovalerate; D003847:Deoxyglucose