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The extracellular matrix regulates cortical layer dynamics and cross-columnar frequency integration in the auditory
Mohamed El-Tabbal1,2, Hartmut Niekisch3,4, Julia U Henschke5
1Department of Systems Physiology of Learning, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, 39118, Magdeburg, Germany. mohamed.eltabbal@oist.jp.
Communications Biology
|March 11, 2021
Summary
Enzymatic removal of the brain's extracellular matrix (ECM) alters cortical circuit processing. This study shows ECM digestion enhances supragranular layer influence on infragranular layers in the auditory cortex.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cellular Neuroscience
- Systems Neuroscience
Background:
- Extracellular matrix (ECM) removal promotes plasticity in the adult vertebrate brain.
- The ECM's role in translaminar cortical circuit dynamics remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of ECM removal on translaminar cortical dynamics.
- To analyze changes in synaptic patterns and network interactions within the auditory cortex.
Main Methods:
- Enzymatic ECM removal in the primary auditory cortex (ACx) of adult Mongolian gerbils using hyaluronidase (HYase).
- Laminar current-source density (CSD) analysis to assess spatiotemporal synaptic patterns.
- Time-domain conditional Granger causality (GC) to measure laminar interaction dynamics.
Main Results:
- ECM digestion induced layer-specific changes in synaptic processing within infragranular layers Vb.
- Observed increased cross-columnar integration and weakened early sensory input processing.
- Identified a beta-band oscillatory signature (25-36 Hz) in infragranular layers Vb.
- Demonstrated increased drive from supragranular to infragranular layers, altering columnar response profiles.
Conclusions:
- ECM degradation significantly alters translaminar cortical network dynamics.
- Supragranular layers exert a stronger influence on columnar responses after ECM digestion.
- Findings reveal a novel mechanism for modulating cortical circuit processing through ECM manipulation.
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