Early Experience And Activity Modifies Expression Of NMDA Receptor Subunit NR2B Protein In The Rat Auditory Cortex

1. Bidirectional modulation of NMDA receptor subunit NR2B protein in the rat auditory cortex by Auditory deprivation and activity during early postnatal daysApplying Western blotting detection technology, we studied the influence of auditory deprivation and tone exposure to the relative level of NMDA receptor subunit NR2B protein expression of auditory cortex of SD rats during early postnatal days. The results showed that the NR2B protein expression of PND 14 and PND28 group rats reduced markedly (P<0.05, P<0.01). Tone exposure after auditory deprivation for 7 days made NR2B protein level increased significantly (P<0.05). It showed bidirectional adjustment trend. Auditory deprivation and tone exposure no longer showed obvious effect to NR2B protein expression of auditory cortex of PND42 rats(P>0.05).The results indicated that, during the critical period of rat postnatal auditory development, auditory deprivation and experience can alter the protein expression level of NMDA receptor subunit NR2B. The findings of this experiment provided important data to the study of the mechanisms for the developmental plasticity of sensory functions.2. Effects of early auditory experience to the developmental expression of NMDA receptor subunit NR2B protein in the rat auditory cortexAuditory deprivation, pure-tone exposure and auditory deprivation + tone exposurewere employed on different groups of rat separately at early postnatal days (PND):PND 14, PND 28 and PND 42. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry wereused to detect the NMDA receptor subunit NR2B protein in auditory cortex to analyzethe effect of the three forms of auditory experiences to the relative expression level ofNR2B protein. The results showed that after tone exposure, the relative expression...