The Role of Cholinergic Neuron System in the Plasticity of Developing Somatosensory Cortex, 2005

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1.Previous studies have shown that neonatal electrolytic lesions of basal forebrain cholinergic projections in mice lead to a transient cholinergic depletion of neocortex and to permanent alterations in cortical cytoarchitecture and cognitive performance. We examined whether neonatal lesions of the basal forebrain modify neocortical plasticity. Using cytochrome oxidase histochemistry, we have shown that an index of plasticity was reduced in the basal forebrain lesioned animals. Our data suggest that cholinergic inputs play a role in regulating plasticity as well as in the morphogenesis of mouse sensory-motor cortex.2.To investigate the role of the transiently expressed serotonin transporter in the thalamocortical axons, paroxetine, an SSRI was administered to pregnant rats and pups. We have found that paroxetine-treated animals revealed a significant decrease in the level of cortical 5-HT and 5-HIAA. Also, we have found that the areas of patches and septa were significantly decreased in the paroxetine-treated groups. A delay of establishment in righting reflex was seen in paroxetine-treated mice. Our data might suggest that 5-HT reuptake into thalamocortical fibers perinatally might contribute to the rat barrel cortex development both in morphology and in neuronal function.