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Expression of DMAP-45R in the rat visual cortex is modulated by visual experience
D Werner1, N Hawrylak, T A Comery
1Department of Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana 61801, USA.
Brain Research
|December 1, 1995
Summary
Visual experience impacts microtubule-associated protein (MAP) expression in rat brains. Monocular deprivation altered MAP-45 in the visual cortex, suggesting a role in structural plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) are crucial for neuronal structure and function.
- Visual experience plays a role in the development and plasticity of the visual cortex.
- The specific role of MAPs in experience-dependent visual cortex plasticity is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of visual experience on the expression of a specific microtubule-associated protein (MAP), Drosophila MAP-45 (DMAP-45), in the rat visual cortex.
- To determine if monocular deprivation influences the structural localization of DMAP-45 in developing visual cortex.
- To assess the reversibility of any observed changes with subsequent visual experience.
Main Methods:
- Monocular deprivation was induced in rats from postnatal day 12 to day 80.
- Immunohistochemistry using an antibody against Drosophila MAP-45 (DMAP-45) was employed to visualize protein expression.
- The visual cortex was analyzed, specifically the monocular (Oc1M) and binocular (Oc1B) segments, for DMAP-45 immunoreactivity in layer V pyramidal cell apical dendrites.
- Reversibility was tested by removing sutures and allowing light exposure for 5 days.
Main Results:
- Monocular deprivation significantly reduced DMAP-45 immunoreactive apical dendrites in layer V pyramidal cells within the visual cortex's monocular segment (Oc1M) contralateral to the deprived eye.
- No significant effects of visual deprivation were observed in the binocular segment (Oc1B).
- Restoration of DMAP-45 immunoreactivity to control levels was observed in Oc1M after a short period of light exposure following suture removal.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates that visual experience influences the expression and localization of DMAP-45 in the developing rat visual cortex.
- These findings suggest that DMAP-45 is involved in experience-dependent structural plasticity within the visual system.
- The results highlight the dynamic nature of neuronal structure in response to sensory input.