Visual Deprivation Suppresses L5 Pyramidal Neuron Excitability by Preventing the Induction of Intrinsic Plasticity

• Published in: Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.) Vol. 68; no. 4; pp. 750 - 762
• Main Authors: Nataraj, Kiran, Le Roux, Nicolas, Nahmani, Marc, Lefort, Sandrine, Turrigiano, Gina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 18.11.2010; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Medical research; Mice; Microscopy; Neural Inhibition - physiology; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Neurons; Neurons - classification; Neurons - pathology; Neurons - ultrastructure; Pyramidal Cells - pathology; Pyramidal Cells - ultrastructure; Rats; Rats, Long-Evans; Sensory Deprivation - physiology; Visual Cortex - physiopathology; Visual Cortex - ultrastructure; Visual Perception - physiology
• ISSN: 0896-6273; 1097-4199
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2010.09.033

In visual cortex monocular deprivation (MD) during a critical period (CP) reduces the ability of the deprived eye to activate cortex, but the underlying cellular plasticity mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here we show that MD reduces the intrinsic excitability of layer 5 (L5) pyramidal neurons and enhances long-term potentiation of intrinsic excitability (LTP-IE). Further, MD and LTP-IE induce reciprocal changes in K v2.1 current, and LTP-IE reverses the effects of MD on intrinsic excitability. Taken together these data suggest that MD reduces intrinsic excitability by preventing sensory-drive induced LTP-IE. The effects of MD on excitability were correlated with the classical visual system CP, and (like the functional effects of MD) could be rapidly reversed when vision was restored. These data establish LTP-IE as a candidate mechanism mediating loss of visual responsiveness within L5, and suggest that intrinsic plasticity plays an important role in experience-dependent refinement of visual cortical circuits. ► MD reduces the intrinsic excitability of layer 5 pyramidal neurons ► Monocular deprivation enhances long-term potentiation of intrinsic excitability ► Long-term potentiation of intrinsic excitability reverses the effects of MD ► This plasticity exhibits a critical period