Alterations in cortical and thalamic connections of somatosensory cortex following early loss of vision
Alterations in cortical and thalamic connections of somatosensory cortex following early loss of vision
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DOI：
10.1002/cne.24582
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发表时间：
2019-07-01
影响因子：
2.5
通讯作者：
Krubitzer, Leah A.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Dooley, James C.;Krubitzer, Leah A.
早期视力丧失会在通常处理视觉输入的皮层区域（如第一视觉区和第二视觉区）的新皮层的功能组织和连接性方面产生巨大变化。这种损失也会导致改变的大小，功能组织，和神经反应特性的主要躯体感觉区，S1。然而，S1中这些功能变化的解剖学基础从未被描述过。在目前的调查中，我们量化的皮质和皮质下连接的S1在动物双侧去核非常早期的发展，在形成视网膜膝状体和丘脑皮质途径。我们发现，S1接收密集的输入从新的皮质领域，现有的皮质和丘脑皮质连接的密度被改变。我们的研究结果表明，感觉系统的发展串联，在一个系统中的感觉输入的改变可以影响其他感觉系统的连接和组织。因此，早期视力丧失后的治疗干预不仅应侧重于恢复视力，而且还应加强备用系统的自然可塑性。
Early loss of vision produces dramatic changes in the functional organization and connectivity of the neocortex in cortical areas that normally process visual inputs, such as the primary and second visual area. This loss also results in alterations in the size, functional organization, and neural response properties of the primary somatosensory area, S1. However, the anatomical substrate for these functional changes in S1 has never been described. In the present investigation, we quantified the cortical and subcortical connections of S1 in animals that were bilaterally enucleated very early in development, prior to the formation of retino-geniculate and thalamocortical pathways. We found that S1 receives dense inputs from novel cortical fields, and that the density of existing cortical and thalamocortical connections was altered. Our results demonstrate that sensory systems develop in tandem and that alterations in sensory input in one system can affect the connections and organization of other sensory systems. Thus, therapeutic intervention following early loss of vision should focus not only on restoring vision, but also on augmenting the natural plasticity of the spared systems.