Cel Experience-dependent plasticity is general to the mammalian neocortex after sensory deprivations. Anyway, the precise synaptic and cellular mechanisms underlying map cortical plasticity in vivo are not known, with particular reference to potentiation of responses to spared pathways. The possibility has been raised that modifications of horizontal connections linking different cortical columns play a crucial role.The barrel cortex of developing rats will be used as a model system to test the hypothesis that modifications of horizontal connections in supragranular layers underlie the plasticity of receptive fields (RFs) observed after whisker deprivation. Animals will be subjected to two different deprivation protocols and, after one week, in vivo patch clamp recordings will be targeted to spared and deprived columns through concurrent voltage sensitive dye imaging. Reconstruction of layer 2/3 recorded neurons, and two-photon imaging of GFP-labelled horizontal connections in separate animals, will be made to see whether RF plasticity is accompanied by structural modifications of axonal connections of layer 2/3 pyramids in vivo.Molecular targeting studies (through osmotic minipump implantation in the vicinity of the barrel cortex) will be made to explore the r ole of specific attractants (Netrins, TrkB ligands) and repellents (Semaphorins, Nogo, A-type Ephrins) axon guidance molecules in this phenomenon. The attainable results will describe a precise synaptic mechanism underlying experience-dependent plasticity in the mammalian brain, using in vivo techniques with cellular resolution. Moreover, the results of the molecular targeting experiments will clarify key molecular mediators of this phenomenon and will show a causal relationship between anatomical modifications of horizontal connections of layer 2/3 pyramids and the electrophysiologically documented RFs modifications. Dziedzina nauki natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiology Słowa kluczowe axon growth barrel cortex plasticity in vivo patch clamp intrinsic horizontal fibres two-photon microscopy Program(-y) FP6-MOBILITY - Human resources and Mobility in the specific programme for research, technological development and demonstration "Structuring the European Research Area" under the Sixth Framework Programme 2002-2006 Temat(-y) MOBILITY-2.1 - Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (EIF) Zaproszenie do składania wniosków FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5 Zobacz inne projekty w ramach tego zaproszenia System finansowania EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European Fellowships Koordynator MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V. Wkład UE Brak danych Adres Hofgartenstraße 8 MÜNCHEN Niemcy Zobacz na mapie Linki Strona internetowa Opens in new window Koszt całkowity Brak danych
