title: Serotonin mediates cross-modal reorganization of cortical circuits.
abstract: Loss of one type of sensory input can cause improved functionality of other sensory systems. Whereas this form of plasticity, cross-modal plasticity, is well established, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying it are still unclear. Here, we show that visual deprivation (VD) increases extracellular serotonin in the juvenile rat barrel cortex. This increase in serotonin levels facilitates synaptic strengthening at layer 4 to layer 2/3 synapses within the barrel cortex. Upon VD, whisker experience leads to trafficking of the AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) into these synapses through the activation of ERK and increased phosphorylation of AMPAR subunit GluR1 at the juvenile age when natural whisker experience no longer induces synaptic GluR1 delivery. VD thereby leads to sharpening of the functional whisker-barrel map at layer 2/3. Thus, sensory deprivation of one modality leads to serotonin release in remaining modalities, facilitates GluR1-dependent synaptic strengthening, and refines cortical organization.
authors.affiliation: Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan.
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jitsuki
authors.forename: Kiwamu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takemoto
authors.forename: Taisuke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawasaki
authors.forename: Hirobumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Aoi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Becamel
authors.forename: Akane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Michisuke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuzaki
authors.forename: R Suzanne
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Zukin
authors.forename: Edward B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Ziff
authors.forename: Helmut W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kessels
authors.forename: Takuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012683:Sensory Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014738:Vibrissae / Q000294:innervation
chemical_list: D000662:Amphetamines; D004298:Dopamine; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D007650:Ketanserin; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D012701:Serotonin; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; C015952:4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxyphenylisopropylamine