HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (19) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rumpel, S. Articles by Gottmann, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rumpel, S. Articles by Gottmann, K.

Report

Silent Synapses in the Immature Visual Cortex: Layer-Specific Developmental Regulation

Department of Cell Physiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, D-44780 Bochum, Germany

Submitted 8 May 2003; accepted in final form 20 October 2003

Central glutamatergic synapses are thought to initially form as immature, so-called silent synapses showing exclusively N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated synaptic transmission. Postsynaptic insertion of -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors during further development leads to a conversion into functional, mature synapses. Here, we tested the hypothesis that, according to the "inside first–outside last" pattern of neocortical layer formation and synaptogenesis, pyramidal cells in the superficial layers might show a higher fraction of silent synapses compared with pyramidal cells in the deep layers. We performed an electrophysiological analysis of glutamatergic synapses in acute rat visual cortex slices during postnatal development. In layer VI pyramidal neurons the incidence of silent synapses was high during the first postnatal week and strongly declined during further development. Surprisingly, in superficial cortical plate pyramidal neurons (immature layers II/III), the fraction of silent synapses was initially very low and increased up to the second postnatal week. Thereafter, a similar decline as found in layer VI pyramidal neurons was observed. Thus the developmental regulation of silent synapses was clearly different in pyramidal neurons from different neocortical layers. The almost complete absence of silent synapses at early stages in layer II/III pyramidal neurons indicates that an initially formed subset of synapses is constitutively functional. This might be important to enable spontaneous activity and latter activity-dependent maturation of synapses.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Fox Experience-dependent plasticity mechanisms for neural rehabilitation in somatosensory cortex Phil Trans R Soc B, February 12, 2009; 364(1515): 369 - 381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Corlew, D. J. Brasier, D. E. Feldman, and B. D. Philpot Presynaptic NMDA Receptors: Newly Appreciated Roles in Cortical Synaptic Function and Plasticity Neuroscientist, December 1, 2008; 14(6): 609 - 625. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. Abrahamsson, B. Gustafsson, and E. Hanse AMPA Silencing Is a Prerequisite for Developmental Long-Term Potentiation in the Hippocampal CA1 Region J Neurophysiol, November 1, 2008; 100(5): 2605 - 2614. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Busetto, M. J. Higley, and B. L. Sabatini Developmental presence and disappearance of postsynaptically silent synapses on dendritic spines of rat layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons J. Physiol., March 15, 2008; 586(6): 1519 - 1527. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Gonzalez-Burgos, S. Kroener, A. V. Zaitsev, N. V. Povysheva, L. S. Krimer, G. Barrionuevo, and D. A. Lewis Functional Maturation of Excitatory Synapses in Layer 3 Pyramidal Neurons during Postnatal Development of the Primate Prefrontal Cortex Cereb Cortex, March 1, 2008; 18(3): 626 - 637. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Corlew, Y. Wang, H. Ghermazien, A. Erisir, and B. D. Philpot Developmental Switch in the Contribution of Presynaptic and Postsynaptic NMDA Receptors to Long-Term Depression J. Neurosci., September 12, 2007; 27(37): 9835 - 9845. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. A. Patten and D. W. Ali AMPA receptors associated with zebrafish Mauthner cells switch subunits during development J. Physiol., June 15, 2007; 581(3): 1043 - 1056. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. D. Aizenman and H. T. Cline Enhanced Visual Activity In Vivo Forms Nascent Synapses in the Developing Retinotectal Projection J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2007; 97(4): 2949 - 2957. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. R. Hardingham, G. E. Hardingham, K. D. Fox, and J. J. B. Jack Presynaptic Efficacy Directs Normalization of Synaptic Strength in Layer 2/3 Rat Neocortex After Paired Activity J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2007; 97(4): 2965 - 2975. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Hardingham and K. Fox The role of nitric oxide and GluR1 in presynaptic and postsynaptic components of neocortical potentiation. J. Neurosci., July 12, 2006; 26(28): 7395 - 7404. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. W. Bottjer Silent Synapses in a Thalamo-Cortical Circuit Necessary for Song Learning in Zebra Finches J Neurophysiol, December 1, 2005; 94(6): 3698 - 3707. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Bourne, C. E. Warner, and M. G.P. Rosa Topographic and Laminar Maturation of Striate Cortex in Early Postnatal Marmoset Monkeys, as Revealed by Neurofilament Immunohistochemistry Cereb Cortex, June 1, 2005; 15(6): 740 - 748. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]