Development and plasticity of local intracortical projections within the vibrissae representation of the rat primary somatosensory cortex

Abstract

Labelling with 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (Di-A) was used to assess the development of projections within the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) of rats aged between postnatal day 2 and 8 (P-2 and P-8). 1,1'-Dioctadecyl-3,3,3,"3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (Di-I) was used in these same animals to label thalamocortical afferents. Particular attention was paid to the emergence of lamina IV intracortical projections that form a pattern complementary to vibrissae-related thalamocortical afferents. A vibrissae-related pattern of Di-A-labelled cells and fibers that was restricted largely to the septa regions was not apparent in rats killed on P-2, but it was visible in animals killed on P-4 and later ages. Tracing with biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) was used to assess intra-SI projections of adult rats that sustained transection of the infraorbital nerve (ION) on P-0 or P-7 or implantation of a tetrodotoxin (TTX)-impregnated polymer chip over the cortex on P-0. Rats that sustained ION transection on P-7 or that had TTX implants demonstrated normal patterns of projections within SI. The patterns of labelling in the supra- and infragranular layers of the cortices of the rats that sustained ION transection on P-0 were generally similar to those in the other groups evaluated. However, in lamina IV, there was no organization that could be related to the distribution of the vibrissae. These results indicate that the vibrissae-related pattern of intracortical projections within SI develops shortly after birth and that two manipulations that alter cortical activity, but not the patterning of thalamocortical afferents (application of TTX and transection of the ION after thalamocortical afferent patterns are established), have no significant effect on it. However, a manipulation that alters thalamocortical development (transection of the ION on P-0) profoundly affects the patterning of intracortical connections.