Neuron
Volume 95, Issue 1, 5 July 2017, Pages 169-179.e3
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Article
Perineuronal Nets in the Adult Sensory Cortex Are Necessary for Fear Learning

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2017.06.007Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Auditory cortex activity after auditory fear conditioning is necessary for learning

  • Removal of PNNs from the auditory cortex of adult mice decreases fear learning

  • Regrowth of PNNs restores the ability to learn new memories

  • Temporal regulation of PNNs occurs in response to fear learning

Summary

Lattice-like structures known as perineuronal nets (PNNs) are key components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Once fully crystallized by adulthood, they are largely stable throughout life. Contrary to previous reports that PNNs inhibit processes involving plasticity, here we report that the dynamic regulation of PNN expression in the adult auditory cortex is vital for fear learning and consolidation in response to pure tones. Specifically, after first confirming the necessity of auditory cortical activity for fear learning and consolidation, we observed that mRNA levels of key proteoglycan components of PNNs were enhanced 4 hr after fear conditioning but were no longer different from the control groups 24 hr later. A similar pattern of regulation was observed in numbers of cells surrounded by PNNs and area occupied by them in the auditory cortex. Finally, the removal of auditory cortex PNNs resulted in a deficit in fear learning and consolidation.

Keywords

conditioning
plasticity
extracellular matrix
auditory cortex
memory
Chondroitinase ABC
consolidation
perceptual learning
hearing
PTSD

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