Synaptic scaling in the developing visual cortex Niraj S. Desai Brandeis University & The Neurosciences Institute Cell Cultures Slices Slice Cultures

Neocortical cultures Use pharmacology to manipulate activity Measure effects on synaptic currents

Quantal currents

Synaptic scaling Postsynaptic change in receptor density Global and multiplicative rescaling Slow time course (> 12 h)

Dark rearing modifies age effects Control Dark-reared

Monocular deprivation

C D

Channel infection in slice cultures K+ channels: Johns et al. (1999) Burrone et al. (2002)

Summary  X Slow form of homeostatic plasticity Active in visual system development Effects are age- and layer-specific L4 P16 L2/3 P23  X

Acknowledgments Brandeis University Gina Turrigiano Sacha Nelson Robert Cudmore Neurosciences Institute Tanya Casimiro Geoffrey Owens