Abstract
Many studies have been devoted to the identification of genes involved in experience-dependent plasticity in the visual cortex. To discover new candidate genes, we have reexamined data from one such study on ocular dominance (OD) plasticity in recombinant inbred BXD mouse strains. We have correlated the level of plasticity with the gene expression data in the neocortex that have become available for these same strains. We propose that genes with a high correlation are likely to play a role in OD plasticity. We have tested this hypothesis for genes whose inactivation is known to affect OD plasticity. The expression levels of these genes indeed correlated with OD plasticity if their levels showed strong differences between the BXD strains. To narrow down our candidate list of correlated genes, we have selected only those genes that were previously found to be regulated by visual experience and associated with pathways implicated in OD plasticity. This resulted in a list of 32 candidate genes. The list contained unproven, but not unexpected candidates such as the genes for IGF-1, NCAM1, NOGO-A, the gamma2 subunit of the GABA(A) receptor, acetylcholine esterase, and the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A. This demonstrates the viability of our approach. More interestingly, the following novel candidate genes were identified: Akap7, Akt1, Camk2d, Cckbr, Cd44, Crim1, Ctdsp2, Dnajc5, Gnai1, Itpka, Mapk8, Nbea, Nfatc3, Nlk, Npy5r, Phf21a, Phip, Ppm1l, Ppp1r1b, Rbbp4, Slc1a3, Slit2, Socs2, Spock3, St8sia1, Zfp207. Whether all these novel candidates indeed function in OD plasticity remains to be established, but possible roles of some of them are discussed in the article.
Highlights
During brain development there are periods in which specific regions are highly plastic and learning occurs more readily and more permanently than during adulthood
To identify new candidate genes playing a role in ocular dominance (OD) plasticity, we wanted to exploit the underused potential of a number of large public datasets
The aim of this study was to produce a selection of novel genes with a very high likelihood of regulating or participating in sensitive period plasticity in the visual cortex
Summary
During brain development there are periods in which specific regions are highly plastic and learning occurs more readily and more permanently than during adulthood These sensitive periods allow us to effectively acquire the skills and knowledge that we build on for the rest of our lives. It means that during such sensitive periods, permanent damage to the circuits of the brain can arise if plasticity does not occur correctly. This can be caused by genetic defects, as is often the case in neurodevelopmental disorders, or due to inappropriate inputs as is the case with the development of amblyopia (lazy eye). MD after the sensitive period results in much more limited plasticity or no plasticity at all, depending on the species and age of the animals
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