Whisker follicle removal affects somatotopy and innervation of other follicles in adult mice

• Published in: Cerebral cortex (New York, N.Y. 1991) Vol. 5; no. 4; p. 301
• Main Authors: Melzer, P, Smith, C B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.07.1995
• Subjects: Animals; Brain Chemistry - physiology; Deoxyglucose; Female; Functional Laterality - physiology; Glucose - metabolism; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Mice; Nerve Fibers - physiology; Neural Pathways - growth & development; Neural Pathways - physiology; Peripheral Nerves - cytology; Peripheral Nerves - physiology; Somatosensory Cortex - growth & development; Somatosensory Cortex - metabolism; Somatosensory Cortex - physiology; Vibrissae - innervation; Vibrissae - physiology
• ISSN: 1047-3211
• DOI: 10.1093/cercor/5.4.301

The present study shows that in the whisker-to-barrel pathway of adult mice surgical removal of three whisker follicles leads to the expansion of the functional cortical representation of the whiskers adjacent to the lesion into the deprived barrels within 8 months. Concomitant with this enlargement, there is an increase in follicular innervation of the corresponding whiskers. This reorganization of the peripheral innervation may be important for the observed reshaping of cortical somatotopy.