Metaplasticity in the Visual Cortex: Crosstalk Between Visual Experience and Reactive Oxygen Species

Author(s)

Francis-Oliveira, Jose ^[1] ; Vilar Higa, Guilherme S. ^[1] ; Munhoz Dati, Livia Mendonca ^[1] ; Shieh, Iane Carvalho ^[1] ; De Pasquale, Roberto ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Fisiol & Biofis, ACidade Univ, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE; v. 38, n. 25, p. 5649-5665, JUN 20 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 2

Abstract

Metaplasticity is the regulation of synaptic plasticity based on the history of previous synaptic activation. This concept was formulated after observing that synaptic changes in the visual cortex are not fixed, but dynamic and dependent on the history of visual information flux. In visual cortical neurons, sustained synaptic stimulation activate the enzymatic complex NOX2, resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). NOX2 is the main molecular structure responsible for translating neural activity into redox modulation of intracellular signaling pathways involved in plastic changes. Here, we studied the interaction between NOX2 and visual experience as metaplastic factors regulating synaptic plasticity at the supergranular layers of the mouse visual cortex. We found that genetic inhibition of NOX2 reverses the polarizing effects of dark rearing from LTP to LTD. In addition, we demonstrate that this process relies on changes in the NMDA receptor functioning. Altogether, this work indicates a role of ROS in the activity-dependent regulation of cortical synaptic plasticity. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/23874-0 - Oxidative stress and synaptic plasticity in primary visual cortex
• Grantee: Roberto De Pasquale
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/07522-0 - Oxidative stress and synaptic plasticity in primary visual cortex
• Grantee: Roberto De Pasquale
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers