Alterations in receptor number, affinity and laminar distribution in cat visual cortex during the critical period

Christopher Shaw, Mary C. Needler, Michael Wilkinson, Chiye Aoki, Max Cynader

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

1. The number, affinity, and laminar distributions of various receptors in cat visual cortex were examined during postnatal development using homogenate and in vitro autoradiographic techniques. 2. For all receptor populations examined, the total number of receptors (Bmax) increased from relatively low early values to peak values during the first three months of postnatal life followed by a drop or plateau in the number of receptors. This peak in Bmax occured during the physiologically-defined period for cortical plasticity. 3. For most receptors examined, the affinity (KD) was also altered during postnatal development. 4. Many of the receptor populations examined exhibited changes in their initial laminar distributions during the first three months of postnatal development, although other did not. 5. The results show a more complex picture of receptor ontogenesis than previously reported, and suggest that the observed receptor modifications affect the synaptic efficacy and the basic chemical circuitry of the visual cortex during the critical period.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)627-634
Number of pages8
JournalProgress in Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry
Volume8
Issue number4-6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1984

Keywords

  • binding site
  • cat visual cortex
  • critical period
  • ontogenesis
  • postnatal development
  • receptor

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Biological Psychiatry

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