Regulation of visual cortical plasticity by perineuronal nets

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Deciphering sugar chain-based signals regulating integrative neuronal functions
• Project/Area Number: 23110004
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Biological Sciences
• Research Institution: National Institute for Physiological Sciences (2015-2016); Nagoya University (2011-2014)
• Principal Investigator: KOMATSU Yukio 生理学研究所, 基盤神経科学研究領域, 特別協力研究員 (90135343)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 可塑性 / シナプス伝達 / 経験依存的発達 / 長期増強 / 視覚野

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the regulation of critical period plasticity by chondroitin sulfate (CS) and keratan sulfate (KS) proteoglycans included in perineuronal nets in the visual cortex. The analysis using transgenic mice, in which the enzyme responsible for the sulfation of CS at the 6 position was overexpressed, demonstrated that the transition of CS from 6S dominant to 4S dominant forms was involved in the regulation of terminating the critical period. This regulation was mediated by the modulation of the maturation of parvalbumin neurons and T-type Ca2+ channel-dependent long-term potentiation (T-LTP). In addition, we found that low-sulfated KS was involved in the regulation of T-LTP and the potentiation of nondeprived eye responses following monocular deprivation. These results suggest that these sugar chains with specific sulfation patterns regulate the critical period plasticity.

Free Research Field

神経生理学