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The development of parvalbumin-positive neurons in ferret visual cortex

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Date Issued:
2014
Summary:
Experience plays a critical role in maturation of cortical circuits. In visual cortex, experience-dependent development has been linked to the maturation of inhibitory interneurons. Parvalbumin-containing (PV+) interneurons, a subtype of GABAergic interneurons, play an important role in cortical circuit function; however, it remains unknown how visual experience shapes their organization. We used immunohistochemistry to observe the organization of PV+ expression in visual cortex through visual maturity. Before visual experience, PV+ cell bodies and processes are most pronounced in layer 5, less in layer 2/3, and generally lacking in layer 4. Within 3 days of the onset of visual experience, PV+ organization undergoes a major shift, with PV+ expression found throughout layers 2-6. We performed dark rearing which determined these morphological changes are due to visual experience. This rapid change in parvalbumin organization may play a role in functional changes associated with the onset of visual experience.
Title: The development of parvalbumin-positive neurons in ferret visual cortex.
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Name(s): Casciato, Dominick Joseph
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Symposium Presentation
Date Issued: 2014
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library
Physical Form: Online Resource
Extent: 21 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Experience plays a critical role in maturation of cortical circuits. In visual cortex, experience-dependent development has been linked to the maturation of inhibitory interneurons. Parvalbumin-containing (PV+) interneurons, a subtype of GABAergic interneurons, play an important role in cortical circuit function; however, it remains unknown how visual experience shapes their organization. We used immunohistochemistry to observe the organization of PV+ expression in visual cortex through visual maturity. Before visual experience, PV+ cell bodies and processes are most pronounced in layer 5, less in layer 2/3, and generally lacking in layer 4. Within 3 days of the onset of visual experience, PV+ organization undergoes a major shift, with PV+ expression found throughout layers 2-6. We performed dark rearing which determined these morphological changes are due to visual experience. This rapid change in parvalbumin organization may play a role in functional changes associated with the onset of visual experience.
Identifier: FA0005007 (IID)
Subject(s): College students --Research --United States.
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005007
Host Institution: FAU