Neuroscience 2005 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 979.3 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Differential plasticity of visuomotor function in rats and mice. |
| Authors: |
Douglas, R. M.*1
; Alam, N. M.2
; Silver, B. D.2
; Prusky, G. T.2
1Dept. Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada 2AB, 2550 Willow St, V5Z 3N9, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Sensory and Motor Systems - Vision -- Visual cortex: Functional organization and circuitry |
| Session: |
979. Visual Cortex: Plasticity and Adaptation Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Wednesday, November 16, 2005 3:00 PM-4:00 PM |
| Location: | Washington Convention Center - Hall A-C, Board # BB1 |
| Keywords: | vision, monocular deprivation, experience-dependent , optomotor |
Previously, we have reported two novel forms of visuomotor plasticity in rodents that depend on visual cortex: A critical period for experience-dependent enhancement of motion vision that commences at eye opening (Silver, et al, SFN, 2004), and an enhancement of optomotor sensitivity through the non-deprived eye (Douglas et al, SFN, 2004) in mice, induced with adult monocular deprivation (MD). In order to determine whether mice have a critical period for motion vision analogous to that in rats, we commenced daily testing of optomotor sensitivity at eye opening. Surprisingly, this visual experience, which leads to permanently enhanced vision in rats, did not affect mouse vision. In order to test the hypothesis that rats are deprived of effective visuomotor experience in their normal laboratory-based rearing environment, but mice are not, we reduced visuomotor experience in mice with binocular deprivation for 10 days after eye opening. This treatment permanently reduced optomotor sensitivity, suggesting that laboratory-reared mice may have enriched visuomotor experience in early life, relative to rats. In order to determine whether rats have adult visual cortex plasticity similar to that in mice, we induced MD in adult rats. This treatment was found to cause a dramatic enhancement of function through the non-deprived eye during the MD, but unlike the mouse, the enhancement did not persist after binocular vision was restored. In order to test the possibility that the persistence of enhanced function after adult MD is dependent upon early visuomotor experience, we monocularly-deprived developmentally-enhanced rats. Although these animals exhibited an augmented enhancement through the non-deprived eye, the enhanced function did not persist after eye opening. Collectively, these data indicate that rats and mice display idiosyncratic forms of visuomotor plasticity. In addition, aspects of the developmental and adult forms of the plasticity appear to be related.
<B>Conflict of Interest:</B> Authors founded a company that produces a product or service related to the work being reported
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2005 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.
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