title: Increase of GAP-43 expression following kainic acid injection into whisker barrel cortex.
abstract: Plasticity after microinjection of kainic acid (KA) into the adult rat whisker barrel cortex was investigated with immunohistochemical staining of phosphorylated growth-associated protein (GAP)-43. After mapping the barrel cortex with the technique of intrinsic signal optical imaging, a small volume of KA was injected into one barrel. Rats were sacrificed at 2 days, 3 days, 1 week, and 6 weeks after lesioning. GAP-43 staining demonstrated intense immunoreactivity (IR) at the injected barrel which spread to the inter-barrel septa and the surrounding barrels. Elevated IR of GAP-43 was visible 2 days after KA injection, and increased gradually at least 6 weeks following the lesion. This model has the possibility of offering a simple and reliable tool for studying cortical plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse 13210, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Meiri
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hodge
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019922:GAP-43 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007267:Injections; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019922:GAP-43 Protein; D007608:Kainic Acid