title: Circuit analysis of experience-dependent plasticity in the developing rat barrel cortex.
abstract: Sensory deprivation during a critical period reduces spine motility and disrupts receptive field structure of layer 2/3 neurons in rat barrel cortex. To determine the locus of plasticity, we used laser scanning photostimulation, allowing us to rapidly map intracortical synaptic connectivity in brain slices. Layer 2/3 neurons differed in their spatial distributions of presynaptic partners: neurons directly above barrels received, on average, significantly more layer 4 input than those above the septa separating barrels. Complementary connectivity was found in deprived cortex: neurons above septa were now strongly coupled to septal regions, while connectivity between barrel regions and layer 2/3 was reduced. These results reveal competitive interactions between barrel and septal circuits in the establishment of precise intracortical circuits.
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA.
authors.forename: Gordon M G
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Pologruto
authors.forename: Karel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Svoboda
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000528:radiation effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007834:Lasers; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012683:Sensory Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates