title: The disorganized visual cortex in reelin-deficient mice is functional and allows for enhanced plasticity.
abstract: A hallmark of neocortical circuits is the segregation of processing streams into six distinct layers. The importance of this layered organization for cortical processing and plasticity is little understood. We investigated the structure, function and plasticity of primary visual cortex (V1) of adult mice deficient for the glycoprotein reelin and their wild-type littermates. In V1 of rl-/- mice, cells with different laminar fates are present at all cortical depths. Surprisingly, the (vertically) disorganized cortex maintains a precise retinotopic (horizontal) organization. Rl-/- mice have normal basic visual capabilities, but are compromised in more challenging perceptual tasks, such as orientation discrimination. Additionally, rl-/- animals learn and memorize a visual task as well as their wild-type littermates. Interestingly, reelin deficiency enhances visual cortical plasticity: juvenile-like ocular dominance plasticity is preserved into late adulthood. The present data offer an important insight into the capabilities of a disorganized cortical system to maintain basic functional properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Neuroscience, Bernstein Fokus Neurotechnologie, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 6, 37075, Göttingen, Germany. jpielec@gwdg.de.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pielecka-Fortuna
authors.affiliation: Institute for Neuroanatomy, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Kreuzbergring 36, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Robin Jan
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wagener
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Neuroscience, Bernstein Fokus Neurotechnologie, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 6, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ann-Kristin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Neuroscience, Bernstein Fokus Neurotechnologie, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 6, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bianka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Goetze
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Neuroscience, Bernstein Fokus Neurotechnologie, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 6, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl-Friedrich
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Institute for Neuroanatomy, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Kreuzbergring 36, 37075, Göttingen, Germany. jochen.staiger@med.uni-goettingen.de.|Center Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Göttingen, Germany. jochen.staiger@med.uni-goettingen.de.|Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany. jochen.staiger@med.uni-goettingen.de.
authors.forename: Jochen F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Staiger
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Neuroscience, Bernstein Fokus Neurotechnologie, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institut für Zoologie und Anthropologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 6, 37075, Göttingen, Germany. sloewel@gwdg.de.|Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany. sloewel@gwdg.de.
authors.forename: Siegrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Löwel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D023882:Dominance, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000166:cytology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D010320:Parvalbumins / Q000378:metabolism; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D000091042:Reelin Protein; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D018757:GABA Modulators; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D010320:Parvalbumins; D000091042:Reelin Protein; C000717128:Reln protein, mouse; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D003975:Diazepam
keywords: Cortical plasticity; Laminar fate; Primary visual cortex; Reeler; Thalamocortical