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In Vivo Targeting of Neural Progenitor Cells in Ferret Neocortex by In Utero Electroporation
Published on: May 6, 2020
Remodeling of inhibitory synaptic connections in developing ferret visual cortex.
1Department of Neuroscience, BRB II/III rm 1114, University of Pennsylvania Medical School, 421 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. dalva@mail.med.upenn.edu
Neural Development
|February 4, 2010
Summary
Inhibitory synapses in the visual cortex remodel significantly during development, refining before excitatory connections. This synaptic rearrangement is crucial for developing adult cortical functions like orientation tuning.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Synaptic Plasticity
Background:
- Excitatory synaptic connections in the visual cortex undergo significant developmental remodeling.
- The remodeling of local inhibitory synapses and the mechanisms involved are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental patterns and refinement of inhibitory synaptic connections in the visual cortex.
- To understand the mechanisms underlying inhibitory synapse remodeling and its relation to visual cortex development.
Main Methods:
- Scanning laser photostimulation in ferret visual cortex slices.
- Assessment of inhibitory and excitatory synaptic inputs onto pyramidal neurons.
- GABA uncaging in brain slices from animals of different ages.
Main Results:
- Inhibitory synaptic inputs were present before eye opening and increased in number, peaking around eye opening.
- Inhibitory input patterns refined more rapidly than excitatory inputs.
- Rapid refinement of inhibitory inputs correlated with a loss of excitatory activity mediated by GABA.
Conclusions:
- Inhibitory synapses undergo substantial postnatal remodeling, similar to excitatory synapses.
- The timing of inhibitory synapse remodeling aligns with the emergence of orientation tuning.
- These synaptic rearrangements are implicated in the development of adult visual cortical response properties.
