抄録
Sensory deprivation in one modality can have striking effect on enhancement of the remaining modalities. However, little is known about the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this type of plasticity. Recent studies in brain slices have identified the regulated trafficking of AMPA receptors (-Rs) into synapses as a major molecular component of neural plasticity. We previously reported that whisker experience can drive AMPA-Rs into synapse in developing (PND 12 14) barrel cortex (Takahashi et al, 2003). Here we examined the trafficking of AMPA-Rs into synapses in the visually-deprived rat barrel cortex. Layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons were infected with Herpes viruses driving expression of GluR1 in PND21 rats in vivo. Animals were returned to their home cages for 2 days, either with their eyes intact or sutured. Subsequently, brain slices were prepared from these animals and transmission between layer 4 and layer 2/3 was examined. We found that recombinant GluR1 was delivered to synapses in rats with visual deprivation but not in intact rats, and these effects were mediated by an activation of serotonergic system. [J Physiol Sci. 2008;58 Suppl:S120]
