Sensorimotor Perturbation Induces Late and Transient Molecular Synaptic Proteins Activation and Expression Changes

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Synaptic Plasticity
• Cortical Reorganization

Background:

• Cerebral cortex plasticity occurs over hours to months.
• Short-term plasticity is linked to synaptic connection changes.
• Understanding synaptic changes during sensorimotor perturbation is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the time-course of synaptic plasticity in the primary somatosensory cortex.
• Analyze protein expression changes during a 14-day sensorimotor perturbation (SMP) and subsequent recovery.
• Determine the role of pre- and postsynaptic proteins, scaffolding proteins, and cytoskeletal proteins in cortical plasticity.

Main Methods:

• Quantified protein levels (pre- and postsynaptic, scaffolding, cytoskeletal) in synaptic-enriched cortical tissue.
• Analyzed protein expression at different time points during a 14-day SMP period and a 24-hour recovery phase.
• Focused on key proteins including synapsin 1, synaptophysin, synaptotagmin 1, AMPA and NMDA receptors, PSD-95, Shank2, neurofilaments, β3-tubulin, synaptopodin, and N-cadherin.

Main Results:

• Presynaptic protein changes were evident by day 7 of SMP.
• Postsynaptic protein alterations occurred by day 14 of SMP.
• These synaptic changes persisted for at least 24 hours into the recovery phase.
• Synapse structure proteins were mildly affected, primarily at day 14.

Conclusions:

• Experience-dependent cortical map reorganization is associated with synaptic transmission changes.
• Synaptic plasticity exhibits a distinct time-course during sensorimotor perturbation and recovery.
• The study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying dynamic cortical modulation.