title: Visual experience and deprivation bidirectionally modify the composition and function of NMDA receptors in visual cortex.
abstract: The receptive fields of visual cortical neurons are bidirectionally modified by sensory deprivation and experience, but the synaptic basis for these changes is unknown. Here we demonstrate bidirectional, experience-dependent regulation of the composition and function of synaptic NMDA receptors (NMDARs) in visual cortex layer 2/3 pyramidal cells of young rats. Visual experience decreases the proportion of NR2B-only receptors, shortens the duration of NMDAR-mediated synaptic currents, and reduces summation of synaptic NMDAR currents during bursts of high-frequency stimulation. Visual deprivation exerts an opposite effect. Although the effects of experience and deprivation are reversible, the rates of synaptic modification vary. Experience can induce a detectable change in synaptic transmission within hours, while deprivation-induced changes take days. We suggest that experience-dependent changes in NMDAR composition and function regulate the development of receptive field organization in visual cortex.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Box 1953, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Philpot
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sekhar
authors.forename: H Z
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Shouval
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Bear
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D021122:Protein Subunits; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D012683:Sensory Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C121001:NR2B NMDA receptor; D021122:Protein Subunits; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate