Experience-dependent gene expression in adult visual cortex

Cereb Cortex. 2010 Mar;20(3):650-60. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhp131. Epub 2009 Jul 1.

Abstract

Experience-dependent plasticity of the adult visual cortex underlies perceptual learning and recovery of function following central nervous system lesions. To reveal the signal transduction cascades involved in adult cortical plasticity, we utilized a model of remapping of cortical topography following binocular retinal lesions. In this model, the lesion projection zone (LPZ) of primary visual cortex (V1) recovers visually driven activity by the sprouting of horizontal axonal connections originating from the cells in the surrounding region. To explore the molecular mechanism underlying this process, we used gene microarrays from an expression library prepared from Macaque V1. By microarray analysis of gene expression levels in the LPZ and the surrounding region, and subsequent confirmation with Quantitative Real-Time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization, the participation of a number of genes was observed, including the Rho GTPase family. Its role in regulation of cytoskeleton assembly provides a possible link between the alteration of neural activity and cortical functional reorganization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Mapping
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology*
  • Macaca fascicularis
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / methods
  • Photic Stimulation / methods
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Retina / injuries
  • Retina / physiology
  • Visual Cortex / physiology*
  • Visual Pathways / physiology
  • Visual Perception / physiology*
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • rho GTP-Binding Proteins