Research progress on barrel cortex and its plasticity / 浙江大学学报·医学版

Synaptic plasticity of barrel cortex is one of the most widely studied topics in neuroscience in recent years. The primary somatosensory cortex of the rodent has a good topology character,which provides an ideal experimental model for plasticity study. This system displays very strong experience-dependent plasticity both during development and in adulthood. The changes of sensory cortex's neural circuit can induce experience-dependent plasticity. In the synaptic level,thalamocortical synapse is considered to be the main location of plasticity. In the circuit level,both synapses from layer 4 to layer 2/3 and those within layer 2/3 are also the necessary parts of achieving synaptic plasticity in primary somatosensory cortex. The GABAergic inhibitory circuit may be involved in this plasticity of S1, but the exact mechanism remains unknown.

The protective effect of melatonin on auditory cortex toxicity induced by cis-platinum / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the toxic response in auditory cortex of guinea pigs caused by cis-platinum (DDP), and the protective role of melatonin in this effect.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cis-platinum and melatonin were injected peritoneally. LDH, MDA, NO in the auditory cortex were detected by spectrophotometeR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The body weight of the guinea pigs was diminished by peritoneal injection of Cis-platinum for 7 days (P < 0.01). Peritoneal injection of Cis-platinum induced the increased leakage of LDH (P < 0.05 vs injection of normal saline). This effect was reduced by injection of MT (P < 0.05). The content of MDA in the auditory cortex was also increased because of injection of Cis-platinumv for 7 days (P < 0.01) and MT reduced this effect (P < 0.05). The change of NO in the auditory cortex was not statistically significant after injection of Cis-platinum or Cis-platinum with MT.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Peritoneal injection of Cis-platinum could destroy neurons in the auditory cortex. This effect could be reduced by melatonin by an anti-free radials mechanism.</p>