Requirement of ERK activation for visual cortical plasticity.
Experience-dependent plasticity in the developing visual cortex depends on electrical activity and molecular signals involved in stabilization or removal of inputs. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1,2 (also called p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase) activation in the cortex is regulated by both factors. We show that two different inhibitors of the ERK pathway suppress the induction of two forms of long-term potentiation (LTP) in rat cortical slices and that their intracortical administration to monocularly deprived rats prevents the shift in ocular dominance towards the nondeprived eye. These results demonstrate that the ERK pathway is necessary for experience-dependent plasticity and for LTP of synaptic transmission in the developing visual cortex.
Di Cristo
G
G
Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza Cavalieri, 7 56126 Pisa, Italy.
Berardi
N
N
Cancedda
L
L
Pizzorusso
T
T
Putignano
E
E
Ratto
G M
GM
Maffei
L
L
D000818:Animals; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D051381:Rats; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000187:drug effects
D002070:Butadienes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D009570:Nitriles; C113580:U 0126; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one