Plasticity in the rat olfactory cortex.

The relationship of age to deafferentation plasticity was studied in the rat olfactory cortex (OC). Ablation of a single olfactory bulb (OB) was performed in each of several rats of selected postnatal (PN) ages: PN2.5, 6, 9, 13, and 21 days and in adults of PN100 days. Following survival times sufficient to remove the resultant degeneration, a cortical lesion was placed in the ipsilateral OC. The patterns of degeneration from the OC lesion were studied and mapped in the adjacent deafferented OC. The results show a spread or sprouting of the usually deep-lying afferents (interrupted by the OC lesion), onto the deafferented superficial dendrites (normally occupied by the OB afferents) in all of the ages. The spread is most striking at PN2.5 to PN9, gradually reduced by PN13 to PN21, and least in the adult (PN100). There is also an apparent increase of afferents to the deeper dendrites nearer the cell bodies in all cases except in the PN 100 group. Shrinkage of layer I is not seen in PN2.5 subjects, is minimal by PN9, but is most marked in the adult PN100 with total OB lesions. Incomplete OB lesions sparing some lateral olfactory tract (LOT) fibers greatly reduce the shrinkage of layer I and the spread of afferents in all ages. Thus, a capacity for reorganization of afferents occurs at least through PN9, with PN13-21 a possible "critical period" after which plasticity is limited and transneuronal effects are more permanent. The association, centrifugal, and olfactory-entorhinal pathways are possible origins for this plasticity. Factors contributing to limitations in this reorganization are discussed.