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MiR‐29 coordinates age‐dependent plasticity brakes in the adult visual cortex
Author(s) -
Napoli Debora,
Lupori Leonardo,
Mazziotti Raffaele,
Sagona Giulia,
Bagnoli Sara,
Samad Muntaha,
Sacramento Erika Kelmer,
Kirkpartick Joanna,
Putignano Elena,
Chen Siwei,
Terzibasi Tozzini Eva,
Tognini Paola,
Baldi Pierre,
Kwok Jessica CF,
Cellerino Alessandro,
Pizzorusso Tommaso
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.15252/embr.202050431
Subject(s) - visual cortex , plasticity , neuroscience , biology , cortex (anatomy) , physics , thermodynamics
Visual cortical circuits show profound plasticity during early life and are later stabilized by molecular “brakes” limiting excessive rewiring beyond a critical period. The mechanisms coordinating the expression of these factors during the transition from development to adulthood remain unknown. We found that miR‐29a expression in the visual cortex dramatically increases with age, but it is not experience‐dependent. Precocious high levels of miR‐29a blocked ocular dominance plasticity and caused an early appearance of perineuronal nets. Conversely, inhibition of miR‐29a in adult mice using LNA antagomirs activated ocular dominance plasticity, reduced perineuronal nets, and restored their juvenile chemical composition. Activated adult plasticity had the typical functional and proteomic signature of critical period plasticity. Transcriptomic and proteomic studies indicated that miR‐29a manipulation regulates the expression of plasticity brakes in specific cortical circuits. These data indicate that miR‐29a is a regulator of the plasticity brakes promoting age‐dependent stabilization of visual cortical connections.