Chronic monocular deprivation induces severe amblyopia that is resistant to spontaneous reversal in adulthood. However, dark exposure initiated in adulthood reactivates synaptic plasticity in the visual cortex and promotes recovery from chronic monocular deprivation. Here we show that chronic monocular deprivation significantly decreases the strength of feedforward excitation and significantly decreases the density of dendritic spines throughout the deprived binocular visual cortex. Dark exposure followed by reverse deprivation significantly enhances the strength of thalamocortical synaptic transmission and the density of dendritic spines on principle neurons throughout the depth of the visual cortex. Thus dark exposure reactivates widespread synaptic plasticity in the adult visual cortex, including at thalamocortical synapses, during the recovery from chronic monocular deprivation.

The relationship between structure and function is an invaluable context with which to explore biological mechanisms of normal and dysfunctional hearing. The systematic and topographic representation of frequency originates at the cochlea, and is retained throughout much of the central auditory system. The cochlear nucleus (CN), which initiates all ascending auditory pathways, represents an essential link for understanding frequency organization. A model of the CN that maps frequency representation in 3D would facilitate investigations of possible frequency specializations and pathologic changes that disturb frequency organization. Toward this goal, we reconstructed in 3D the trajectories of labeled auditory nerve (AN) fibers following multiunit recordings and dye injections in the anteroventral CN of the CBA/J mouse. We observed that each injection produced a continuous sheet of labeled AN fibers. Individual cases were normalized to a template using 3D alignment procedures that revealed a systematic and tonotopic arrangement of AN fibers in each subdivision with a clear indication of isofrequency laminae. The combined dataset was used to mathematically derive a 3D quantitative map of frequency organization throughout the entire volume of the CN. This model, available online (http://3D.ryugolab.com/), can serve as a tool for quantitatively testing hypotheses concerning frequency and location in the CN.

SUMMARY Being ectothermic, fish body temperature generally depends on ambient water temperature. Thus, ambient temperature might affect various sensory systems,including hearing, as a result of metabolic and physiological processes. However, the maintenance of sensory functions in a changing environment may be crucial for an animal's survival. Many fish species rely on hearing for acoustic orientation and communication. In order to investigate the influence of temperature on the auditory system, channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus was chosen as a model for a eurytherm species and the tropical catfish Pimelodus pictus as a model for a stenotherm fish. Hearing sensitivity was measured with animals acclimated or unacclimated to different water temperatures. Ambient water temperature significantly influenced hearing thresholds and the shape of auditory evoked potentials, especially at higher frequencies in I. punctatus. Hearing sensitivity of I. punctatus was lowest at 10°C and increased by up to 36 dB between 10°C and 26°C. Significant differences were also revealed between acclimated and unacclimated animals after an increase in water temperature but not a decrease. By contrast, differences in hearing thresholds were smaller in P. pictus, even if a similar temperature difference (8°C) was considered. However, P. pictus showed a similar trend as I. punctatus in exhibiting higher hearing sensitivity at the highest tested temperature, especially at the highest frequency tested. The results therefore suggest that the functional temperature dependence of sensory systems may differ depending upon whether a species is physiologically adapted to tolerate a wide or narrow temperature range.

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