Synaptic number changes in the medial prefrontal cortex across adolescence in male and female rats: A role for pubertal onset

Carly M. Drzewiecki; Jari Willing; Janice M. Juraska

doi:10.1002/syn.21909

journal article Jun 10, 2016

Synaptic number changes in the medial prefrontal cortex across adolescence in male and female rats: A role for pubertal onset

Carly M. Drzewiecki Jari Willing

Janice M. Juraska

Synapse Vol. 70 No. 9 pp. 361-368 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/syn.21909

Abstract

ABSTRACTAdolescence is a unique period of development, marked by maturation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region important for executive functioning. During this time, the human PFC decreases in overall volume and thickness. Likewise in adolescent rodents, losses of neurons, dendrites, dendritic spines and neurotransmitter receptors have been documented within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), sometimes with sex and layer specificity. However, changes in the number of synapses during this time have not been examined. In the present study, we stereologically quantified the number of synaptophysin‐immunoreactive boutons in the male and female rat mPFC across multiple time points from the juvenile period through adulthood (postnatal days (P) 25, 35, 45, 60 and 90). In females, there was a significant decrease in synaptophysin boutons between P35 and P45, coinciding with the onset of puberty. In males, there was no significant main effect of age on synaptophysin boutons; however, in both males and females, pubertal onset was associated with significant synaptic losses. These results suggest that puberty is a critical period for synaptic pruning within the rat mPFC, potentially contributing to maturation of adolescent executive function. Synapse 70:361–368, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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Details

Published: Jun 10, 2016
Vol/Issue: 70(9)
Pages: 361-368
License: View

Authors

C

Carly M. Drzewiecki

Program in Neuroscience University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois 61820

J

Jari Willing

Department of Psychology University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign 603 E Daniel St Champaign Illinois 61820

J

Janice M. Juraska

Program in Neuroscience University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois 61820; Department of Psychology University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign 603 E Daniel St Champaign Illinois 61820

Funding

National Institutes of Health Award: NIHMH099625

Cite This Article

Carly M. Drzewiecki, Jari Willing, Janice M. Juraska (2016). Synaptic number changes in the medial prefrontal cortex across adolescence in male and female rats: A role for pubertal onset. Synapse, 70(9), 361-368. https://doi.org/10.1002/syn.21909

Synaptic number changes in the medial prefrontal cortex across adolescence in male and female rats: A role for pubertal onset

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