In vivo two-photon imaging reveals a role of arc in enhancing orientation specificity in visual cortex

Cell. 2006 Jul 28;126(2):389-402. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2006.06.038.

Abstract

Cortical representations of visual information are modified by an animal's visual experience. To investigate the mechanisms in mice, we replaced the coding part of the neural activity-regulated immediate early gene Arc with a GFP gene and repeatedly monitored visual experience-induced GFP expression in adult primary visual cortex by in vivo two-photon microscopy. In Arc-positive GFP heterozygous mice, the pattern of GFP-positive cells exhibited orientation specificity. Daily presentations of the same stimulus led to the reactivation of a progressively smaller population with greater reactivation reliability. This adaptation process was not affected by the lack of Arc in GFP homozygous mice. However, the number of GFP-positive cells with low orientation specificity was greater, and the average spike tuning curve was broader in the adult homozygous compared to heterozygous or wild-type mice. These results suggest a physiological function of Arc in enhancing the overall orientation specificity of visual cortical neurons during the post-eye-opening life of an animal.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / physiology*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Heterozygote
  • Homozygote
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
  • Orientation / physiology*
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*
  • Visual Pathways / physiology

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins