Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4351928 | Neuroscience Research | 2011 | 4 Pages |
During a critical period, unilateral retinal lesions induce rapid axonal sprouting of intact axons into denervated territories within the collicular visual layers. We investigated the effect of caffeine, a non-selective A1 and A2a antagonist, upon the lesion-induced plasticity of retinotectal axons. Pigmented rats submitted to a temporal retinal lesion received either caffeine (30 mg/kg, ip) or saline treatment. The anterograde tracing revealed that caffeine treatment during the critical period resulted in a clear reduction on the sprouting of ipsilateral fibers but to an amplification of the plasticity after PND21, thus revealing opposite effects depending on the developmental time window.
► Retinal lesions induce axonal sprouting of intact axons within superior colliculus. ► Caffeine treatment has opposite effects depending on the developmental time window. ► This drug may interfere with natural plasticity during brain development. ► Caffeine emerges as a facilitatory agent for neuronal plasticity in adulthood.