Distribution of inhibitory synapses on the somata of pyramidal neurons in cat motor cortex.

The mechanisms by which cortical neurons perform spatial and temporal integration of synaptic inputs are dependent, in large part, on the numbers, types, and distributions of their synapses. To further our understanding of these integrative mechanisms, we examined the distribution of synapses on identified classes of cortical neurons. Pyramidal cells in the cat motor cortex projecting either to the ipsilateral somatosensory cortex or to the spinal cord were labeled by the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase. Entire soma of selected corticocortical and corticospinal cells were examined using serial-section electron microscopy. The profiles of these somata and the synapses formed with each of these profiles were reconstructed from each thin section with a computer-aided morphometry system. All somatic synapses were of the symmetrical, presumably inhibitory type. For both cell types, these synapses were not homogeneously distributed over the somatic membrane, but were clustered at several discrete zones. The number and density of synapses on the somata of different corticocortical and corticospinal neurons were not significantly different. However, the density of these synapses was inversely correlated with the size of their postsynaptic somata. We discuss the significance of these findings to the integrative properties of cortical neurons.

Tactile experience determines the organization of movement representations in rat motor cortex.

We mapped movement representations in motor cortex of rats that had their mystacial vibrissae (whiskers) clipped continually for various periods during their development. In animals clipped since birth, and in adult animals clipped for 5 days, there was a significant reduction in the ratio of whisker to forelimb representation areas. Allowing the whiskers to regrow for at least 72 h resulted in normal-appearing representation patterns. The plasticity of motor representations induced by whisker clipping, and that following whisker regrowth, were not age dependent. These findings indicate that a relatively innocuous procedure that restricts sensory and motor functions results in pronounced, and reversible, changes in the functional organization of the motor cortex.