Elimination of inhibitory synapses is a major component of adult ocular dominance plasticity

Daniëlle van Versendaal; Rajeev Rajendran; M Hadi Saiepour; Jan Klooster; Laura Smit-Rigter; Jean-Pierre Sommeijer; Chris I De Zeeuw; Sonja B Hofer; J Alexander Heimel; Christiaan N Levelt

doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2012.03.015

Elimination of inhibitory synapses is a major component of adult ocular dominance plasticity

Neuron. 2012 Apr 26;74(2):374-83. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.03.015.

Authors

Daniëlle van Versendaal¹, Rajeev Rajendran, M Hadi Saiepour, Jan Klooster, Laura Smit-Rigter, Jean-Pierre Sommeijer, Chris I De Zeeuw, Sonja B Hofer, J Alexander Heimel, Christiaan N Levelt

Affiliation

¹ Department of Molecular Visual Plasticity, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

PMID: 22542189
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2012.03.015

Abstract

During development, cortical plasticity is associated with the rearrangement of excitatory connections. While these connections become more stable with age, plasticity can still be induced in the adult cortex. Here we provide evidence that structural plasticity of inhibitory synapses onto pyramidal neurons is a major component of plasticity in the adult neocortex. In vivo two-photon imaging was used to monitor the formation and elimination of fluorescently labeled inhibitory structures on pyramidal neurons. We find that ocular dominance plasticity in the adult visual cortex is associated with rapid inhibitory synapse loss, especially of those present on dendritic spines. This occurs not only with monocular deprivation but also with subsequent restoration of binocular vision. We propose that in the adult visual cortex the experience-induced loss of inhibition may effectively strengthen specific visual inputs with limited need for rearranging the excitatory circuitry.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Age Factors
Animals
Carrier Proteins / genetics
Dendritic Spines / metabolism
Dendritic Spines / ultrastructure
Dominance, Ocular / physiology*
Electroporation
Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
In Vitro Techniques
Luminescent Proteins / genetics
Membrane Proteins / genetics
Mice
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Neural Inhibition / genetics
Neural Inhibition / physiology*
Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
Neurons / physiology*
Neurons / ultrastructure
Sensory Deprivation
Synapses / physiology*
Synapses / ultrastructure
Time Factors
Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2 / metabolism
Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins / metabolism
Visual Cortex / cytology*
Visual Pathways / physiology

Substances

Carrier Proteins
Luminescent Proteins
Membrane Proteins
Slc17a6 protein, mouse
Vesicular Glutamate Transport Protein 2
Vesicular Inhibitory Amino Acid Transport Proteins
Viaat protein, mouse
fluorescent protein 583
gephyrin
Green Fluorescent Proteins