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Rapid, experience-dependent expression of synaptic NMDA receptors in visual cortex in vivo

Nature Neuroscience volume 2, pages 352–357 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

Sensory experience is crucial in the refinement of synaptic connections in the brain during development. It has been suggested that some forms of experience-dependent synaptic plasticity in vivo are associated with changes in the complement of postsynaptic glutamate receptors, although direct evidence has been lacking. Here we show that visual experience triggers the rapid synaptic insertion of new NMDA receptors in visual cortex. The new receptors have a higher proportion of NR2A subunits and, as a consequence, different functional properties. This effect of experience requires NMDA receptor activation and protein synthesis. Thus, rapid regulation of postsynaptic glutamate receptors is one mechanism for developmental plasticity in the brain. Changes in NMDA receptor expression provide a mechanism by which brief sensory experience can regulate the properties of NMDA receptor-dependent plasticity in visual cortex.

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Figure 1: Visual experience regulates the composition of NMDARs in synaptoneurosomes from visual cortex.
Figure 2: The ifenprodil sensitivity of NMDAR-mediated field potentials in visual cortex is experience dependent.
Figure 3: Brief light exposure induces a rapid change in synaptic NMDAR composition and function in visual cortex.
Figure 4: Treatment of animals with CPP, a competitive antagonist of NMDARs, or cycloheximide, an inhibitor of mRNA translation, blocks the experience-induced increase in NR2A/B.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank D. Olstein, A. Sekhar, E. Sklar and S. Meagher for assistance. This work was supported in part by grants from the Human Frontiers Science Program and the National Eye Institute.

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  1. The first two authors contributed equally to this paper.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience Brown University, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Providence, 02912, Rhode Island, USA

    Elizabeth M. Quinlan, Benjamin D. Philpot & Mark F. Bear

  2. Department of Neuroscience The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baltimore, 21205, Maryland, USA

    Richard L. Huganir

Authors
  1. Elizabeth M. Quinlan
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  2. Benjamin D. Philpot
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  3. Richard L. Huganir
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  4. Mark F. Bear
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Correspondence to Mark F. Bear.

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Quinlan, E., Philpot, B., Huganir, R. et al. Rapid, experience-dependent expression of synaptic NMDA receptors in visual cortex in vivo. Nat Neurosci 2, 352–357 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/7263

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