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Changes in NMDA-receptor function in the first week following laser-induced lesions in rat visual cortex
Li Yan1, Barbara Imbrosci, Weiyi Zhang
1Department of Neurophysiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstr. 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany.
Cerebral Cortex (New York, N.Y. : 1991)
|November 18, 2011
Summary
Following brain injury, new presynaptic NMDA-receptors (NMDARs) emerge near the lesion, enhancing synaptic transmission and aiding functional reorganization. This study reveals novel roles for NMDARs in brain repair after focal injury.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cellular Biology
- Neuroplasticity
Background:
- Focal brain injuries trigger functional reorganization to compensate for lost function.
- Previous work identified enhanced synaptic plasticity mediated by NR2B-containing NMDA-receptors (NMDARs) at lesion borders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate lesion-induced changes in NMDAR function and localization near focal brain lesions.
- To explore the role of NMDARs in cortical functional reorganization post-injury.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a laser-induced focal brain lesion model in the rat visual cortex.
- Performed extracellular recordings and Western blot analysis.
- Examined synaptic plasticity and NMDAR localization and function.
Main Results:
- Discovered lesion-mediated reexpression of presynaptic/extrasynaptic NMDARs (preNMDARs) near the lesion site.
- Demonstrated that preNMDARs enhance spontaneous and evoked glutamatergic synaptic transmission.
- Observed increased NMDAR current decay time and a decreased NR2A/NR2B ratio postsynaptically.
Conclusions:
- NMDARs play a critical role in functional reorganization following focal cerebral cortex lesions.
- The reexpression and altered function of NMDARs contribute to synaptic plasticity and compensatory mechanisms.
