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Vision

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.

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Quantifying Synapses: an Immunocytochemistry-based Assay to Quantify Synapse Number

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Characterizing synaptic protein development in human visual cortex enables alignment of synaptic age with rat visual

Joshua G A Pinto¹, David G Jones², C Kate Williams¹

¹McMaster Integrative Neuroscience Discovery and Study (MiNDS) Program, McMaster University Hamilton, ON, Canada.

Frontiers in Neural Circuits

|March 3, 2015

Summary

Human brain development, particularly in the visual cortex, extends into childhood, revealing a prolonged sensitive period for neuroplasticity. This finding helps align animal models with humans for better therapy translation.

Keywords:

development human cortex rat cortex synaptic proteins visual cortex

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Synaptic Plasticity

Background:

Translating neuroplasticity therapies from lab to clinic is hindered by limited understanding of human synaptic development and age alignment with animal models.
Animal models, particularly of the visual system, have been crucial for understanding neuroplasticity mechanisms and sensitive periods.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify the expression of key pre- and post-synaptic proteins in human primary visual cortex (V1) to understand synaptic development.
To determine the duration of the sensitive period for plasticity in human sensory cortex.
To establish a method for aligning synaptic age between human and animal models for improved therapy translation.

Main Methods:

Quantified expression of conserved pre- and post-synaptic proteins (Synapsin, Synaptophysin, PSD-95, Gephyrin) in human V1.
Analyzed inter-individual variability of protein expression during childhood.
Utilized principle component analysis and linear regression to compare human and rat visual cortex development.

Main Results:

Synaptic development in human V1 continues into late childhood, indicating a prolonged sensitive period.
Distinct waves of inter-individual variability for the four proteins were observed during childhood, with Gephyrin showing high variability in infants (<1 year).
Pre- and post-synaptic protein balance matures rapidly within the first 1-2 years of life.
A linear equation was identified to align synaptic age between human and rat visual cortex.

Conclusions:

Human V1 exhibits a longer sensitive period for plasticity than previously thought, extending into late childhood.
Understanding synaptic development timelines is crucial for effective neuroplasticity therapy development and clinical translation.
The developed method for aligning synaptic age between species facilitates more accurate preclinical testing and therapeutic targeting.