Do NMDA receptor kinetics regulate the end of critical periods of plasticity?
Increasing NR2A subunit expression and the associated shortening of the NMDA-EPSC are thought to underlie the loss of diverse types of sensory cortical plasticity. Lu and colleagues (Lu et al., 2001 [this issue of Neuron]) now report that mice lacking the NR2A subunit display normal duration of critical periods of barrel cortex plasticity. Shortening of the NMDA-EPSC is therefore not responsible for the end of these critical periods.
Medina
A E
AE
Department of Anatomy, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.
Liao
D S
DS
Mower
A F
AF
Ramoa
A S
AS
D000818:Animals; D003423:Critical Period, Psychological; D007700:Kinetics; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*
D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate