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Postnatal Development of Pyramidal Neurons Excitability and Synaptic Inputs in Mouse Gustatory Cortical Circuits.
Hillary Schiff1,2, Arianna Maffei1,3
1Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794 schiff.119@osu.edu arianna.maffei@stonybrook.edu.
Eneuro
|April 16, 2026
Summary
The gustatory cortex (GC) circuit matures slowly into adulthood, increasing inhibition and refining connections. This protracted development influences taste processing and sensory integration for food decisions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Sensory Systems
Background:
- Postnatal maturation of sensory cortices involves changes in membrane properties and synaptic drive, leading to critical period closure.
- The developmental trajectory of gustatory cortex (GC) circuits, particularly in relation to taste perception, remains largely unexplored.
- Taste receptor cells and nucleus of the solitary tract neurons exhibit postnatal maturation, but GC development is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the postnatal development of pyramidal neurons in the deep layers of the mouse gustatory cortex (GC).
- To characterize changes in intrinsic excitability and the excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance during GC maturation.
- To examine the role of parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) inhibitory neurons and perineuronal nets (PNNs) in GC circuit refinement.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiological recordings from acute slices of mouse gustatory cortex (GC) from postnatal week 3 to 8.
- Comparison of membrane properties and synaptic drive in GC pyramidal neurons across developmental stages.
- Analysis of parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) neuron association with perineuronal nets (PNNs) and their connectivity.
Main Results:
- GC pyramidal neurons show a shift towards inhibition, with increased inhibitory synaptic drive during postnatal development.
- Maturation of inhibitory circuits involves parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) neurons, increased perineuronal net (PNN) association, and refined connectivity.
- Intrinsic excitability of GC neurons changes, contributing to the developmental shift in the excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance.
Conclusions:
- The gustatory cortex (GC) undergoes protracted postnatal maturation extending into adulthood, characterized by increased inhibition and refined neural circuitry.
- This extended maturation period in GC may influence taste response properties and the integration of sensory information for feeding behaviors.
- GC circuit refinement occurs over a developmental window that overlaps with taste receptor cell maturation and critical periods for taste preference development.
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