Oligodendrocyte Maturation and Myelination Limit Neuronal Plasticity in the Visual Cortex During Adolescence

Główne pojęcia

Oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination during adolescence act as a functional brake on neuronal plasticity in the visual cortex.

Streszczenie

The article investigates the relationship between oligodendrocyte maturation, myelination, and neuronal plasticity in the visual cortex. It presents evidence that the developmental process of myelination by oligodendrocytes plays a critical role in shaping the maturation and stabilization of cortical circuits, thereby limiting neuronal plasticity as animals age.

The key findings are:

1. During adolescence, visual experience modulates the rate of oligodendrocyte maturation in the visual cortex.
2. Genetically blocking oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination in adolescent mice leads to enhanced functional plasticity in the adult visual cortex, as evidenced by a significant decrease in responses to the deprived eye following a brief period of monocular deprivation.
3. This enhanced plasticity is accompanied by greater turnover of dendritic spines and coordinated reductions in spine size following deprivation.
4. Inhibitory synaptic transmission, which gates experience-dependent plasticity at the circuit level, is diminished in the absence of adolescent oligodendrogenesis.

These results support the concept that developmental myelination by oligodendrocytes acts as a functional brake on neuronal plasticity, stabilizing cortical circuits as animals mature.

Statystyki

Developmental myelination is a protracted process in the mammalian brain.
Visual experience modulated the rate of oligodendrocyte maturation in the visual cortex during adolescence.
In adult mice lacking adolescent oligodendrogenesis, a brief period of monocular deprivation led to a significant decrease in visual cortex responses to the deprived eye.

Cytaty

"One theory for why oligodendrocytes mature so slowly posits that myelination may stabilize neuronal circuits and temper neuronal plasticity as animals age."
"These results establish a critical role for oligodendrocytes in shaping the maturation and stabilization of cortical circuits and support the concept of developmental myelination acting as a functional brake on neuronal plasticity."

Kluczowe wnioski z

Oligodendrocytes and myelin limit neuronal plasticity in visual cortex - Nature

by Wendy Xin,Me... o www.nature.com 08-21-2024

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07853-8

Głębsze pytania

How do the mechanisms underlying oligodendrocyte-mediated regulation of neuronal plasticity differ across different brain regions and developmental stages?

In the context of the visual cortex, oligodendrocytes play a crucial role in regulating neuronal plasticity by modulating the maturation and stabilization of cortical circuits. During adolescence, visual experience influences the rate of oligodendrocyte maturation, suggesting a region-specific interaction between sensory input and oligodendrocyte development. This interaction impacts the turnover of dendritic spines, synaptic transmission, and ultimately, the plasticity of neuronal circuits. The balance between oligodendrocyte maturation and neuronal plasticity varies across brain regions and developmental stages, highlighting the complexity of their interplay in shaping neural circuits.

What are the potential implications of disrupting the balance between oligodendrocyte maturation and neuronal plasticity for neurological and psychiatric disorders?

Disrupting the balance between oligodendrocyte maturation and neuronal plasticity can have significant implications for neurological and psychiatric disorders. Dysregulation in oligodendrocyte development may lead to altered neuronal plasticity, affecting the ability of neural circuits to adapt to changing environments or experiences. This disruption could contribute to conditions such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, and mood disorders, where aberrant synaptic plasticity and circuit function are observed. Understanding the impact of oligodendrocyte-mediated regulation on neuronal plasticity may offer new insights into the pathophysiology of these disorders and potential therapeutic targets for intervention.

Could targeted manipulation of oligodendrocyte development be a viable strategy for enhancing neuronal plasticity and cognitive function in adulthood?

Targeted manipulation of oligodendrocyte development holds promise as a potential strategy for enhancing neuronal plasticity and cognitive function in adulthood. By modulating the maturation of oligodendrocytes, it may be possible to influence the stability and plasticity of neuronal circuits, allowing for increased adaptability and learning capacity in the adult brain. This approach could have implications for cognitive enhancement, rehabilitation following brain injury, and the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. However, further research is needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms by which oligodendrocytes regulate neuronal plasticity and to develop safe and effective strategies for targeted manipulation in adult brains.