The decline in ocular dominance plasticity observed over the course of postnatal development was previously thought to be irreversible. The developmental decline in ocular dominance plasticity constrains the ability of the adult visual system to recover from chronic monocular deprivation. Here we use chronic monocular deprivation from eye opening to adulthood to induce severe amblyopia in pigmented Long Evans rats, and demonstrate that dark exposure in adulthood promotes the experience-dependent recovery of spatial acuity in the chronically-deprived eye. We propose that dark exposure in adulthood reactivates anatomical and physiological plasticity at thalamocortical synapses, and delineate a series of experiments to isolate, characterize and optimize the recovery of thalamocortical synaptic transmission. We propose that dark exposure will enhance plasticity at thalamocortical synapses, which will promote experience-dependent visual perceptual learning and activity-dependent potentiation of the visually-evoked responses. Importantly, we propose that the enhancement of GABAergic inhibition with diazepam will block these reactivation of anatomical, physiological and behavioral plasticity by dark exposure. We propose to develop non-invasive methods to strengthen thalamocortical synapses in vivo, via visual tetanus (photic LTP) and visual perceptual learning. In addition, we propose to harness the experience-dependent potentiation of thalamocortical synaptic that is reactivated by dark exposure to accelerate the recovery of spatial acuity in our animal model of severe amblyopia.

Public Health Relevance

Dark exposure in adulthood promotes the experience-dependent recovery of vision in a rodent model of severe amblyopia. We propose that dark exposure in adulthood reactivates anatomical and physiological plasticity at thalamocortical synapses, and delineate a series of experiments to isolate, characterize and optimize the recovery of thalamocortical synaptic transmission. We propose to harness the experience-dependent enhancement of thalamocortical synaptic reactivated by dark exposure to accelerate the recovery from severe amblyopia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Eye Institute (NEI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01EY016431-07
Application #
8389862
Study Section
Central Visual Processing Study Section (CVP)
Program Officer
Araj, Houmam H
Project Start
2005-04-01
Project End
2016-11-30
Budget Start
2012-12-01
Budget End
2013-11-30
Support Year
7
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$309,028
Indirect Cost
$95,278
Name
University of Maryland College Park
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Earth Sciences/Natur
DUNS #
790934285
City
College Park
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
20742
Hensch, Takao K; Quinlan, Elizabeth M (2018) Critical periods in amblyopia. Vis Neurosci 35:E014
Bridi, Michelle C D; de Pasquale, Roberto; Lantz, Crystal L et al. (2018) Two distinct mechanisms for experience-dependent homeostasis. Nat Neurosci 21:843-850
Murase, Sachiko; Lantz, Crystal L; Quinlan, Elizabeth M (2017) Light reintroduction after dark exposure reactivates plasticity in adults via perisynaptic activation of MMP-9. Elife 6:
Gu, Yu; Tran, Trinh; Murase, Sachiko et al. (2016) Neuregulin-Dependent Regulation of Fast-Spiking Interneuron Excitability Controls the Timing of the Critical Period. J Neurosci 36:10285-10295
Eaton, Nicolette C; Sheehan, Hanna Marie; Quinlan, Elizabeth M (2016) Optimization of visual training for full recovery from severe amblyopia in adults. Learn Mem 23:99-103
Murase, Sachiko; Lantz, Crystal L; Kim, Eunyoung et al. (2016) Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Regulates Neuronal Circuit Development and Excitability. Mol Neurobiol 53:3477-3493
Gu, Yu; Huang, Shiyong; Chang, Michael C et al. (2013) Obligatory role for the immediate early gene NARP in critical period plasticity. Neuron 79:335-46
Montey, Karen L; Eaton, Nicolette C; Quinlan, Elizabeth M (2013) Repetitive visual stimulation enhances recovery from severe amblyopia. Learn Mem 20:311-7
Montey, Karen L; Quinlan, Elizabeth M (2011) Recovery from chronic monocular deprivation following reactivation of thalamocortical plasticity by dark exposure. Nat Commun 2:317
Scott, L L; Kogan, D; Shamma, A A et al. (2010) Differential regulation of synapsin phosphorylation by monocular deprivation in juveniles and adults. Neuroscience 166:539-50

Showing the most recent 10 out of 11 publications