Experience-induced plasticity of thalamocortical axons in both juveniles and adults.
We examined the effect of sensory deprivation on thalamocortical (TC) projections to the rat primary somatosensory cortex at different postnatal ages ranging from P0 to P96. Rats had their whiskers clipped off with one or two vibrissae spared. TC axons innervating barrel cortex were specifically labeled by injecting virus expressing fluorescent proteins into the corresponding primary (VPM) and/or secondary (POm) thalamic nuclei. The density of VPM axons in deprived columns was ≈34% lower relative to spared columns with a concomitant decrease in bouton density, suggesting a deprivation-induced retraction of VPM axons. Axonal changes were reversible upon regrowth of the clipped whiskers and independent of age at deprivation, indicating the absence of a critical period for anatomical plasticity. The POm projection was not obviously altered by sensory deprivation. We suggest that retraction and regrowth of TC axons substantially contribute to long-term deprivation-dependent functional plasticity.
Wimmer
Verena C
VC
Department of Cell Physiology, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. vwimmer@florey.edu.au
Broser
Philip J
PJ
Kuner
Thomas
T
Bruno
Randy M
RM
D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000502:physiology; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000502:physiology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012683:Sensory Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D013788:Thalamus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development
D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins