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Increase of GAP-43 expression following kainic acid injection into whisker barrel cortex
T Yamamoto1, T T Nguyen, R T Stevens
1Department of Neurosurgery, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse 13210, USA.
Abstract:
Plasticity after microinjection of kainic acid (KA) into the adult rat whisker barrel cortex was investigated with immunohistochemical staining of phosphorylated growth-associated protein (GAP)-43. After mapping the barrel cortex with the technique of intrinsic signal optical imaging, a small volume of KA was injected into one barrel. Rats were sacrificed at 2 days, 3 days, 1 week, and 6 weeks after lesioning. GAP-43 staining demonstrated intense immunoreactivity (IR) at the injected barrel which spread to the inter-barrel septa and the surrounding barrels. Elevated IR of GAP-43 was visible 2 days after KA injection, and increased gradually at least 6 weeks following the lesion. This model has the possibility of offering a simple and reliable tool for studying cortical plasticity.