Attenuated sensory deprivation-induced changes of parvalbumin neuron density in the barrel cortex of fcyRIIB-def icient mice

Recent studies have demonstrated the important role of immune molecules in the development of neu-ronal circuitry and synaptic plasticity. We have detected the presence of FcyRllB protein in parvalbu-min-containing inhibitory interneurons (PV neurons). In the present study, we examined the appearance of PV neurons in the barrel cortex and the effect of sensory deprivation in FcyRllB-deflcient mice (FcyRllB-/-) and wild-type mice. There was no substantial difference in the appearance of PV neurons in the developing barrel cortex between FcyRllB-/- and wild-type mice. Sensory deprivation from immediately after birth (PO) or P7 to P12-P14 induced an increase in PV neurons. In contrast, sensory deprivation from P7 or P14 to P28, but not from P21 to P28, decreased PV neurons in wild-type mice. However, sensory deprivation from PO or P7 to P12-P14 did not increase PV neurons and sensory deprivation from P7 or P14 to P28 did not decrease or only modestly decreased PV neurons in Fey R11B-/- mice. The results indicate that expression of PV is regulated by sensory experience and the second and third postnatal weeks are a sensitive period for sensory deprivation, and suggest that Fey R11B contributes to sensory experience-regulated expression of PV.