【Books/review/comments】Elucidating mechanisms of neuronal circuit formation in layer 4 of the somatosensory cortex via intravital imaging

January 19 2021

Lab: Hidenobu Mizuno

Authors: Rao MS, Mizuno H* (*Corresponding author)

Title: Elucidating mechanisms of neuronal circuit formation in layer 4 of the somatosensory cortex via intravital imaging

Neuroscience Research, December 10, 2020, ISSN 0168-0102(20)

doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2020.10.007

URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168010220304910?via%3Dihub

Highlights

• The rodent's barrel cortex is a useful system to explore cortical circuit development.

• The processes of circuit formation in L4 of the barrel cortex are summarized.

• In vivo imaging revealed the mechanisms controlling circuit dynamics in L4.

Abstract

 The cerebral cortex has complex yet perfectly wired neuronal circuits that are important for high-level brain functions such as perception and cognition. The rodent's somatosensory system is widely used for understanding the mechanisms of circuit formation during early developmental periods. In this review, we summarize the developmental processes of circuit formation in layer 4 of the somatosensory cortex, and we describe the molecules involved in layer 4 circuit formation and neuronal activity-dependent mechanisms of circuit formation. We also introduce the dynamic mechanisms of circuit formation in layer 4 revealed by intravital two-photon imaging technologies, which include time-lapse imaging of neuronal morphology and calcium imaging of neuronal activity in newborn mice.