An N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist does not prevent eye-specific segregation in the ferret retinogeniculate pathway

Smetters, Diana K.; Hahm, Jong-On; Sur, Mriganka

doi:10.1016/s0006-8993(09)90023-3

Cited by 47 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 29 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Finally, our results, together with those of Smetters et al (1994), suggest that the segregation of retinal afferents into eyespecific layers proceeds independently of NO or NMDA receptor activation and indicate that other activity-dependent mechanisms act during this phase. Interestingly, this demonstrates that rather different mechanisms can be used to regulate sequential aspects of development in the same pathway.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…Blockade of afferent activity with tetrodotoxin disrupts the formation of eye-specific layers in the cat retinogeniculate projection (Shatz and Stryker, 1988) and the formation of ON/OFF sublaminae in the ferret (Cramer and Sur, 1996). The formation of ON/OFF sublaminae requires NMDA receptor activation (Hahm et al, 1991) during the third postnatal week, whereas the formation of eye-specific layers during the first postnatal week does not (Smetters et al, 1994). The sequential segregation of retinogeniculate afferents into eye-specific layers in an NMDA receptorindependent manner and into ON/OFF sublayers in an NMDA receptor-dependent manner provides an opportunity to investigate how neuronal activity effects changes in synaptic connections in the LGN and how activity may be transduced via different biochemical pathways during different phases of development.…”

Section: Abstract: Diffusible Messenger; Visual System; Lateral Genimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The restriction of retinogeniculate axon arbors into eye-specific layers appears to depend on action potential activity (Shatz and Stryker, 1988) but does not require activation of NMDA receptors (Smetters et al, 1994). The formation of ON/OFF sublaminae is also activity-dependent and is disrupted by in vivo blockade of NMDA receptors (Hahm et al, 1991).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A Role for Nitric Oxide in the Development of the Ferret Retinogeniculate Projection

et al. 1996

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The ferret retinogeniculate projection segregates into eyespecific layers during the first postnatal week and into ON/OFF sublaminae, which receive inputs from either on-center or offcenter retinal ganglion cells, during the third and fourth postnatal weeks. The restriction of retinogeniculate axon arbors into eye-specific layers appears to depend on action potential activity (Shatz and Stryker, 1988) but does not require activation of NMDA receptors (Smetters et al., 1994). The formation of ON/OFF sublaminae is also activity-dependent and is disrupted by in vivo blockade of NMDA receptors (Hahm et al., 1991). To investigate a possible mechanism whereby blockade of postsynaptic NMDA receptors in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) results in changes in the size and position of presynaptic axon arbors, we tested the role of the diffusible messenger nitric oxide (NO) in the development of the retinogeniculate pathway. We found previously that NO synthase (NOS) is transiently expressed in LGN cells during the refinement of retinogeniculate projections . In this study, treatment with N G -nitro-L-arginine (L-NoArg), an arginine analog that inhibits NOS, during the third and fourth postnatal weeks resulted in an overall pattern of sublamination that was significantly reduced compared with normal and control animals. Single retinogeniculate axon arbors were located in the middle of eye-specific layers rather than toward the inner or outer half as in normal or control animals. The effect of NOS inhibition was not a consequence of the hypertensive effect of L-NoArg. In contrast to the effect of L-NoArg on the formation of ON/OFF sublaminae, treatment with L-NoArg during the first postnatal week did not disrupt the formation of eye-specific layers. Biochemical assays indicated significant inhibition of NOS during both treatment periods. These data suggest that NO acts together with NMDA receptors in activity-dependent refinement of connections during a specific phase of retinogeniculate development. Key words: diffusible messenger; visual system; lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN); pattern formation; eye-specific layers; ON/ OFF sublaminae; neuronal activityThe precise pattern of connections underlying adult visual processing in mammals arises from the refinement of less specific connectivity present early in development. The mechanisms by which diffuse connections are refined rely at least in part on neuronal activity. In the ferret, retinogeniculate connections are refined in two distinct phases. During the first postnatal week, retinal axons within the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) segregate into eye-specific layers (Linden et al., 1981). During the third and fourth postnatal weeks, afferents to the A and A1 layers, which receive input from the contralateral and ipsilateral eye, respectively, further segregate into sublaminae. The inner sublamina receives inputs from on-center retinal ganglion cells, whereas the outer sublamina receives inputs from off-center retinal ganglion cells (Stryker and Zahs, 1983;Hahm and S...

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Abstract: Diffusible Messenger; Visual System; Lateral Genimentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Role for Nitric Oxide in the Development of the Ferret Retinogeniculate Projection

et al. 1996

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In view of this, our findings highlight the role of LGN projection neurons in the formation of eye-specific domains in the dLGN. It has been previously reported that thalamic NMDA receptors do not contribute to the eye-specific segregation in the ferret dLGN (Smetters et al, 1994). However, although the activity of postsynaptic cells, at least the NMDA-mediated activity, does not seem to be required, our study indicates that the postsynaptic cell per se is involved in the segregation of eyespecific layers in the dLGN.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 49%

ERK signaling is required for eye-specific retino-geniculate segregation

et al. 2004

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the mammalian visual system, retinal ganglion cell (RGC) projections from each eye, initially intermixed within the dorsal-lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), become segregated during the early stages of development,occupying distinct eye-specific layers. Electrical activity has been suggested to play a role in this process; however, the cellular mechanisms underlying eye-specific segregation are not yet defined. It is known that electrical activity is among the strongest activators of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Moreover, the ERK pathway is involved in the plasticity of neural connections during development. We examine the role of ERK in the segregation of retinal afferents into eye-specific layers in the dLGN. The activation of this signaling cascade was selectively blocked along the retino-thalamic circuitry by specific inhibitors, and the distribution of RGC fibers in the dLGN was studied. Our results demonstrate that the blockade of ERK signaling prevents eye-specific segregation in the dLGN, providing evidence that ERK pathway is required for the proper development of retino-geniculate connections. Of particular interest is the finding that ERK mediates this process both at the retinal and geniculate level.

show abstract

“…It should be noted that NMDA receptors are crucial for the ON/OFF segregation of retinogeniculate axons, while they are irrelevant to the eye-specific segregation of retinogeniculate axons in the ferret LGN (Smetters et al, 1994). There seem to be distinct mechanisms underlying different types of segregation of retinogeniculate axons in the ferret LGN.…”

Section: The Ferret As a Model Animal For Investigating The Retinogenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular investigations of the brain of higher mammals using gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets

Kawasaki

2014

Neuroscience Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The brains of mammals such as carnivores and primates contain developed structures not found in the brains of mice. Uncovering the physiological importance, developmental mechanisms and evolution of these structures using carnivores and primates would greatly contribute to our understanding of the human brain and its diseases. Although the anatomical and physiological properties of the brains of carnivores and primates have been intensively examined, molecular investigations are still limited. Recently, genetic techniques that can be applied to carnivores and primates have been explored, and molecules whose expression patterns correspond to these structures were reported. Furthermore, to investigate the functional importance of these molecules, a rapid and efficient genetic manipulation method was established by applying in utero electroporation to gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets. In this article, I review recent advances in molecular investigations of the brains of carnivores and primates, mainly focusing on ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).

show abstract

An N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist does not prevent eye-specific segregation in the ferret retinogeniculate pathway

Cited by 47 publications

References 29 publications

A Role for Nitric Oxide in the Development of the Ferret Retinogeniculate Projection

A Role for Nitric Oxide in the Development of the Ferret Retinogeniculate Projection

ERK signaling is required for eye-specific retino-geniculate segregation

Molecular investigations of the brain of higher mammals using gyrencephalic carnivore ferrets

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About