title: Subplate neuron ablation alters neurotrophin expression and ocular dominance column formation.
abstract: Ocular dominance column formation in visual cortex depends on both the presence of subplate neurons and the endogenous expression of neurotrophins. Here we show that deletion of subplate neurons, which supply glutamatergic inputs to visual cortex, leads to a paradoxical increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA in the same region of visual cortex in which ocular dominance columns are absent. Subplate neuron ablation also increases glutamic acid decarboxylase-67 levels, indicating an alteration in cortical inhibition. These observations imply a role for this special class of neurons in modulating activity-dependent competition by regulating levels of neurotrophins and excitability within a developing cortical circuit.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lein
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Finney
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: McQuillen
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shatz
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D017931:DNA Primers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007608:Kainic Acid