Journal article
Genetic enhancement of visual learning by activation of protein kinase C pathways in small groups of rat cortical neurons
The Journal of neuroscience, v 25(37), pp 8468-8481
14 Sep 2005
PMID: 16162929
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Although learning and memory theories hypothesize that memories are encoded by specific circuits, it has proven difficult to localize learning within a cortical area. Neural network theories predict that activation of a small fraction of the neurons in a circuit can activate that circuit. Consequently, altering the physiology of a small group of neurons might potentiate a specific circuit and enhance learning, thereby localizing learning to that circuit. In this study, we activated protein kinase C (PKC) pathways in small groups of neurons in rat postrhinal (POR) cortex. We microinjected helper virus-free herpes simplex virus vectors that expressed a constitutively active PKC into POR cortex. This PKC was expressed predominantly in glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in POR cortex. This intervention increased phosphorylation of five PKC substrates that play critical roles in neurotransmitter release (GAP-43 and dynamin) or glutamatergic neurotransmission (specific subunits of AMPA or NMDA receptors and myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate). Additionally, activation of PKC pathways in cultured cortical neurons supported activation-dependent increases in release of glutamate and GABA. This intervention enhanced the learning rate and accuracy of visual object discriminations. In individual rats, the numbers of transfected neurons positively correlated with this learning. During learning, neuronal activity was increased in neurons proximal to the transfected neurons. These results demonstrate that potentiating small groups of glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons in POR cortex enhances visual object learning. More generally, these results suggest that learning can be mediated by specific cortical circuits.
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Details
- Title
- Genetic enhancement of visual learning by activation of protein kinase C pathways in small groups of rat cortical neurons
- Creators
- Guo-Rong Zhang - Department of Neurology, West Roxbury Veterans Affairs Hospital, Harvard Medical School, West Roxbury, Massachusetts 02132, USAXiaodan WangLingxin KongXiu-Gui LuBrian LeeMeng LiuMei SunCorinna FranklinRobert G CookAlfred I Geller
- Publication Details
- The Journal of neuroscience, v 25(37), pp 8468-8481
- Publisher
- Society for Neuroscience; United States
- Grant note
- AG16777 / NIA NIH HHS R01 NS045855 / NINDS NIH HHS NS43107 / NINDS NIH HHS AG20177 / NIA NIH HHS R01 AG021193 / NIA NIH HHS K01 AG020177 / NIA NIH HHS NS045855 / NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS043107 / NINDS NIH HHS AG021193 / NIA NIH HHS R01 AG016777 / NIA NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000231889300015
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-24944578263
- Other Identifier
- 991014878599604721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Neurosciences