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Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase mediates ocular dominance shifts in cat visual cortex

Nature Neuroscience volume 4, pages 159–163 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Visual experience during a critical period early in postnatal development can change connections within mammalian visual cortex. In a kitten at the peak of the critical period (∼P28–42), brief monocular deprivation can lead to complete dominance by the open eye, an ocular dominance shift. This process is driven by activity from the eyes, and depends on N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation. The components of the intracellular signaling cascade underlying these changes have not all been identified. Here we show that inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) by Rp-8-Cl-cAMPS blocks ocular dominance shifts that occur following monocular deprivation early in the critical period. Inhibition of protein kinase G by Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS had no effect, indicating a specificity for the PKA pathway. Enhancement of PKA activity late in the critical period with Sp-8-Cl-cAMPS did not increase plasticity. PKA is a necessary component of the pathway leading to cortical plasticity during the critical period.

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Figure 1: Inhibition of PKA blocks OD shifts.
Figure 2: Responses to visual stimulation are unchanged by inhibition of PKA.
Figure 3: Activation of CNG channels does not block OD shifts.
Figure 4: Inhibition of PKG does not block OD shifts.
Figure 5: Activation of PKA late in the critical period does not increase the size of OD shifts.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Public Service Grant # RO1 EY00053. Core facilities in the department are supported by Research to Prevent Blindness. The authors thank A. Roe and D. Mitchell for comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yale University School of Medicine, 330 Cedar Street, New Haven, 06520-8061, Connecticut, USA

    Christopher J. Beaver, Qinghua Ji, Quentin S. Fischer & Nigel W. Daw

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Correspondence to Christopher J. Beaver.

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Beaver, C., Ji, Q., Fischer, Q. et al. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase mediates ocular dominance shifts in cat visual cortex. Nat Neurosci 4, 159–163 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/83985

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