Columnar distribution of serotonin-dependent plasticity within kitten striate cortex.
Recent studies have identified the potential for an important role for serotonin (5-HT) receptors in the developmental plasticity of the kitten visual cortex. 5-HT(2C) receptors are transiently expressed in a patchy fashion in the visual cortex of kittens between 30-80 days of age complementary to patches demarcated by cytochrome oxidase staining. 5-HT, operating via 5-HT(2C) receptors, increases cortical synaptic plasticity as assessed both in brain slices and in vivo. Herein, we report that bath application of 5-HT substantially increases the probability of long-term potentiation within 5-HT(2C) receptor-rich zones of cortex, but this effect is not observed in the 5-HT(2C) receptor-poor zones. Instead, in these zones, 5-HT application increases the probability of long-term depression. These location-specific effects of 5-HT may promote the formation of compartment-specific cortical responses.
Kojic
L
L
Brain Research Centre and Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, 2550 Willow Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5Z 3N9. kojic@ecc.ubc.ca
Dyck
R H
RH
Gu
Q
Q
Douglas
R M
RM
Matsubara
J
J
Cynader
M S
MS
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000254:growth & development*
D044405:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D012701:Serotonin; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase