title: Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase mediates ocular dominance shifts in cat visual cortex.
abstract: Visual experience during a critical period early in postnatal development can change connections within mammalian visual cortex. In a kitten at the peak of the critical period (approximately P28-42), brief monocular deprivation can lead to complete dominance by the open eye, an ocular dominance shift. This process is driven by activity from the eyes, and depends on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation. The components of the intracellular signaling cascade underlying these changes have not all been identified. Here we show that inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) by Rp-8-Cl-cAMPS blocks ocular dominance shifts that occur following monocular deprivation early in the critical period. Inhibition of protein kinase G by Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS had no effect, indicating a specificity for the PKA pathway. Enhancement of PKA activity late in the critical period with Sp-8-Cl-cAMPS did not increase plasticity. PKA is a necessary component of the pathway leading to cortical plasticity during the critical period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, 330 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8061, USA. beaver@biomed.med.yale.edu
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Beaver
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Q S
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Daw
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017869:Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015349:Vision, Monocular / Q000502:physiology; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D013873:Thionucleotides; C074155:8-chloroadenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate; C098740:8-bromo-beta-phenyl-1,N(2)-ethenoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D017869:Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D006152:Cyclic GMP