Journal
MOLECULAR BRAIN RESEARCH
Volume 88, Issue 1-2, Pages 135-143Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/S0169-328X(01)00042-0
Keywords
GABA(A) receptor; neuronal plasticity; visual development; critical period; NMDA receptor
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The present study used Western blots and Northern slot blots to determine changes in the level of expression of GABA(A) receptor subunits alpha (1), alpha (2), and alpha (3), in relation to the 'critical period' in cat visual cortex. Levels of the GABA(A) alpha (1) subunit were lowest at 1 week, increased four-fold to a maximum at 10 weeks, and declined slightly (35%) into adulthood. Levels of the GABA(A) alpha (2) and alpha (3) subunits were highest at 1 week of age, decreased two-fold by 10 weeks of age and were constant thereafter. Comparison between visual cortex from normal and dark-reared cats at 5 weeks and 20 weeks showed that alpha (1) and alpha (3) subunit expression was elevated in dark-reared animals by approximately 50% at both ages. alpha (2) expression was not affected. These results implicate the importance of a shift from putative immature to mature GABA(A) receptor subunits during the critical period of visual cortex and in conjunction with parallel analysis of NMDA receptor subunit maturation, further support the notion that a changing excitatory/inhibitory balance is critical for neuronal plasticity. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available